Introduction to Esteem! (Excerpt from the book)

    If you are attracted to this book because you are looking for a 'quick fix' for your life, you have the wrong book!  This book will guide you through the process of building your self-esteem from the 'inside out'.  In other words, it provides the information, foundation and tools so that you can build self-esteem and live the rest of your life from a place of inner strength. 

    In each and every one of us there is a 'Spark' whose purpose is to become a 'Flame'.  This spark is the centre of your humanness - the real you!  It is clear that no matter how much crises or trauma a person has experienced in their life, and no matter how many times a person may have felt defeated and alone, their 'spark' remains.  There are times when fears bury it, and times when the spark may no longer seem to exist.  Yet it remains. 

    Now this spark has an energy all its own, and its driving force is to ignite and become a FLAME.  And this flame must be seen.  Being seen means that each person first lets themselves see their own flame - their genuine self-worth with all its qualities and limitlessness -and in turn show the world who they are without fear while expressing their qualities and living through their limitlessness and potential.  And when it begins to flame, you begin to live life from a solid core of self and get the life that you genuinely want and deserve. 

    The greater a person's self-esteem, the more this 'spark' has permission to become a flame.  As the flame grows, the real self becomes the basis of how life is lived.  An when a person lives from a basis of genuineness, a magnet is created that attracts what a person really needs in life to feel at peace, secure, purposeful, motivated and alive. 

    The approach presented in this book has been fondly called the Head-Heart-Gut model.  These three areas of the body become symbols and anchors for activating truly great esteem.  Think of them as layers of a cake.  The Head is about 'how and what' people think and is based on the reality that our thoughts can build or destroy our self-esteem.  The Heart is a symbol for feelings.  Feelings are a very powerful tool that when understood can be used and directed advantageously.  The Gut is about the gift of Intuition, and this innate ability can be rapidly developed for both women and men.  Now this cake is held together by a very rich icing - developing a Self-care Attitude that permeates a person's entire life. 

    One October evening nearly four years ago in the small town of Tillsonburg, Ontario this model was born.  After nearly20 years working in the field of wellness, I realized two things.  First, no matter how I was working with people - as a psychotherapist, group or seminar facilitator or as a professional speaker - people were continually asking me how to 'get', build or increase self-esteem.  The second knowing came in one of those 'lightbulb' moments - when a clear realization comes in like a force of nature.  I was a keynote presenter that evening.  As I was speaking I realized that I had been using a consistent approach for quite some time with people who wanted to strengthen and build their self-esteem.  Following this intuitive and guided knowing, I changed the program for the evening and began to present a model that was so crystal and felt so powerful for people seeking their true potential. 

    Since that time, I have been teaching this model extensively on a therapeutic basis, as training for other wellness professionals, as key-note presentations and in a workbook which was the forerunner to this book.  Bottom-line is that the Head-Heart-Gut model works, or I wouldn't be presenting it in this form for you now.  By the way, this labour and delivery has seemed much longer than birthing my two children!  This book is my gift for you.  It comes with a great deal of knowledge and energy to use to ignite your FLAME!

Glover Scott, K. (2001). Esteem!. Alternative Truths Press: Ingersoll, Ontario.

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