Love relationships, marriage and divorce can wreak havoc on your self esteem. As an individual you need to become self reliant and independent with an array of social skills so as to protect and nurture the inner loving core or 'soul' of your spiritual being.

Social psychologists believe that we have a self concept that is developed from the feelings, information and level of respect or esteem that we got from 'significant others' during our childhood and teenage growth years. Another aspect of self esteem is the body image. Are we fat, skinny, well-proportioned, ugly or beautiful in our own view? How about in the view prevailing in the media and in the norms of our society?

Self confidence, assertiveness and social skills, or feelings of loneliness and inadequacy grow out of our earlier developmental years and come to characterize us as a unique personality. It is interesting to wonder whether self esteem is the central core of our ongoing experience. I am inclined to think that it is. Dr Abraham H. Maslow who first coined the concept maintained that self esteem is a basic human need, for mental health and survival. But is it flexible, modifiable and trainable? I believe so.

Remember how you feel when you acquire a new skill such as bike riding or learning to drive a car -- or fly an airplane. You feel a warm glow of satisfaction as you gratify your inner need for self esteem. You feel empowered, excited, energized and able to take on any life task or problem. Just as you feel when you meet someone and start up a rewarding sexual relationship and get married. But marriage is a risky affair and almost half, say 30-50% of marriages in the western world end in divorce. Then your self concept and emotional equilibrium take a battering that threatens even your mental and physical health and well being.

What can be done to keep us mentally tough, resilient and resistant to these social ills and modern day emotional stresses? Can anything really be done to protect our innermost soul and feelings? YES. We've got to learn to love ourselves before we can project that love out on to others and out into society, and towards all living beings!

Dr Joe Rubino has published a revolutionary new book on the topic of self-esteem. It is called: The Self-Esteem Book: The Ultimate Guide to Boost the Most Underrated Ingredient for Success and Happiness in Life. He has clearly seen this component as the very vitamin of social life that it really is!

The book has now been translated into 5 languages and well over 45,517 copies of the book have been sold. It can help anyone to start realizing the quality of life they absolutely deserve but never felt that they would get. Achievement in all major areas of life -- health, relationships, career, spirituality and wealth -- becomes distinctly possible and inevitable.

Take a sneak peek at my blog to read and find out more about this essential vitamin for your psychological and spiritual happiness and well being.

I remain your avid supporter online.

Geoff Dodd

Perth 6000 Australia