An Investigation Into Self Esteem

GBlagg: You are a lightening rod.

S&S: Thank you.

GBlagg: That is not necessarily a compliment.

S&S: Oh?

GBlagg: There are those who seem to absolutely hate you.

S&S: Is that so?

GBlagg: Yes. They insult you and curse you.

S&S: And yet who do you see?

GBlagg: Excuse me?

S&S: Who stands before you?

GBlagg: Obviously, it is you.

S&S: Yes. And do I look or seem different. Have I changed somehow?

GBlagg: No.

S&S: So, have their words or feelings affected reality?

GBlagg: No. But why? Why do the words or feelings of another not affect you?

S&S: Because A is A.

GBlagg: Please explain.

S&S: Do you have time?

GBlagg: Uh oh....

S&S: Yes or no?

GBlagg: Ok, yes.

S&S: Let us begin with the way a man views himself. Is there a term for this? A man’s thoughts of himself?

GBlagg: Yes. Self esteem.

S&S: We will call it self esteem.
How is it a man gains knowledge of himself?

GBlagg: Through his actions, the way he lives, how he deals with others...

S&S: Yes, yes...and this builds up his self esteem, his personal view of that which he is?

GBlagg: I believe so.

S&S: Then why are so many in delusion?

GBlagg: I do not understand.

S&S: Why do so many live under false pretenses? Believe they are great, when they are not.

GBlagg: I don’t know if that is necessarily true...

S&S: Let us not fall into the trap of untruth. You know of men who esteem themselves far beyond their means, do you not?

GBlagg: Well, yes.

S&S: So there is false self esteem.

GBlagg: Yes.

S&S: And as an opposite, there must be true self esteem.

GBlagg: Yes.

S&S: And, we as men should choose the true.

GBlagg: Obviously.

S&S: So what is true self esteem? How do we gain it?

GBlagg: Is it belief based on facts? A knowledge of ones self grounded in the truth.

S&S: I believe that to be true. But we must break it down even further.

GBlagg: Go on.

S&S: To positive self esteem, and negative self esteem.

GBlagg: Ah.

S&S: Do you understand the difference?

GBlagg: Well, I would say positive self esteem is that which makes a man feel...

S&S: That which raises a man.

GBlagg: And negative would then be that which lowers him.

S&S: That which debases him.
Which is the proper ambition to strive for?

GBlagg: Well, obviously the positive.

S&S: And how would a man do this?

GBlagg: By doing what is right?

S&S: It is more than just the doing. It is the succeeding.

GBlagg: But not all men can succeed. Not all men are Einstein, or Tesla, Edison.

S&S: No they are not. Never have all men had the same talents. But all men, even the slowest can be Honest. Even the brute can have Integrity. Even the daft can show Courage.

GBlagg: This seems to be true.

S&S: It is. Every man can have positive self esteem. It is within his grasp. He need only choose the right path.

GBlagg: So what does this mean? This man and his self esteem?

S&S: It means this. When a man has true self esteem. Earned from his successes, and thus being positive, he then knows himself. He knows what he is. He becomes confident in this knowledge.

GBlagg: I see where this is headed.

S&S: When a man has true self esteem, the words of others are merely questions. Do those words mesh with what he knows of himself? If they do, he sees the other's words as true. If they do not, those words ring false. And are thus meaningless.

GBlagg: And here we are at the beginning again.

S&S: Yes. I am a lightening rod, this I accept. That I am hated, this I accept. That I am what any man wishes to make me simply by the use of his words, this I deny. No man can make any other man, without his consent, that which he is not simply by wishing it so. A is in fact A.