Self-Esteem, William James Style

I was doing a bit of homework tonight, and I read something in a chapter about self-esteem that really resonated with me, so I thought I would share it.

As a bit of background, William James was a pioneering psychologist who happened to write a book that I know well, as it was used as a textbook in my Psychology of Religion class in undergrad (The Varieties of Religious Experience) and was venerated by my professor.

"William James, for example, noted that people can stake their self-worth on strikingly distinct qualities, with the result that anyone can achieve high self-esteem as long as they emphasize their strengths and devalue their weaknesses." 
(from Bosson, J.K. & Swann, W.B. [2009] Self-esteem. In M. R. Leary & R. H. Hoyle [Eds.] Handbook of individual differences in social behavior).

I like the idea that anyone can achieve high self-esteem. (That is certainly in practice daily at the ShepAlder household!) It makes me feel hopeful and optimistic for people, my clients, etc. 

"Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

This afternoon I was trying to do some reading, but discovered that one of my "textbooks" was actually loose-leaf papers in need of a binder (it's possible that I did that intentionally because it was cheaper, but I don't remember now). So, I conscripted Josh to help me find a binder in our ridiculously messy garage.

We didn't find a binder, but I did find some other fun stuff about which I had completely forgotten.

Firstly, I randomly found this in a box of stationery:

So I know what we're eating for dinner tonight! (Cornmeal muffins equal a meal, right?)

In a different box, I found these:

My GRE vocabulary flashcards!

In the summer of 2006, I took a GRE prep course from a kid whom I strongly suspect was younger than I was. When I finally took the test, it was in a building that was under construction (yeah, jackhammers and the whole bit) so it was difficult to pay attention, but I only started stresscrying once (which I consider an achievement). As soon as I was finished, I made a mad dash across the UO campus to be there in time for my friend Mike's wedding. It was a day full of emotional highs and lows.

Also in that box:

Oh, Norton anthology, how I miss thee!

I miss being an English major, though there are probably a million reasons this particular textbook did not make it to my shelves. The class was traumatizing in its density and annoying in the stupidity of my classmates (I took this class at the UO after I already had my English degree, so I was a little prideful about that), but I got an A, so everything is good. (By the way, there are several different versions of Norton anthologies, and I have read them all).

Lastly, my most interesting find was this:

I put this particular book together my freshman year of college when I was going through a phase where I was constantly cutting little phrases and words out of magazines that I thought described me and my Human Condition. In the book, I wrote down quotes that inspired me (I was even a member of a quote-of-the-day e-mail group), and it's interesting to read those (10 years later).

One of my favorites:

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." 

--Martin Luther King Jr.

There are some other really good quotes here. Maybe I'll save them for future posts.

(Just so you know, the title quote is from Gordon B. Hinckley).