Self-Image vs. Self-Esteem

I wrote about this a number of years ago, and published it in 2007. It is still as relevant today as it was then. You can’t HIDE their shortcomings from people to “avoid hurting their self-esteem.” This does them no favors. Liberals support doing this, and it’s wrong. The best way to help people is to let them know how good they are if they’re good, and tell them where they need work if that is true. Today, we often mistake “self-esteem” for “self-image,” and the difference between the two is TRUTH. Self-image is their own opinion of their talents and abilities, based on KNOWLEDGE, not by hiding the truth from them to give them a FALSE sense of superiority. Until we realize the difference, we’ll be hindering our children in their development. (THOMA$ Foundation for Motivational Research)