The desire for self-esteem without integrity is like the desire for wealth without effort-a longing for the unearned. Nathaniel Branden More Quotes by Nathaniel Branden More Quotes From Nathaniel Branden It's not that achievements prove our worth but rather that the process of achieving is the means by which we develop our effectiveness, our competence at living. Nathaniel Branden effectiveness achievement mean To accept struggle as part of life, to accept all of it, even the darkest moments of anguish; to be motivated by love rather than fear, by confidence rather than insecurity: these are the benchmarks of high self-esteem. The wish to avoid fear and pain is not the motive that drives the lives of highly evolved men and women; rather, it is the life force within them, thrusting toward its unique form of expression-the actualization of personal values. Nathaniel Branden pain self-esteem struggle Integrity means congruence. Words and behavior match. Nathaniel Branden behavior integrity mean Where we see self esteem, we see self acceptance. High self esteem individual tend to avoid falling into an adversarial relationship with themselves. Nathaniel Branden self-esteem acceptance fall One of the characteristics of love relationships that flower is a relatively high degree of mutual self-disclosure - a willingness to let our partner enter into the interior of our private world and a genuine interest in the private world of that partner. Couples in love tend to show more of themselves to each other than to any other person. Nathaniel Branden couple flower love-you The practice of assertiveness: being authentic in our dealings with others; treating our values and persons with decent respect in social contexts; refusing to fake the reality of who we are or what we esteem in order to avoid disapproval; the willingness to stand up for ourselves and our ideas in appropriate ways in appropriate contexts. Nathaniel Branden practice order reality A bully hides his fears with fake bravado. That is the opposite of self-assertiveness. Nathaniel Branden fake self opposites One of the characteristics of love relationships that flower is a relatively high degree of mutual self-disclosure Nathaniel Branden love-relationship flower self The music that inspires the souls of lovers exists within themselves and the private universe they occupy. They share it with each other; they do not share it with the tribe or with society. The courage to hear that music and to honor it is one of the prerequisites of romantic love. Nathaniel Branden soul love inspire I have to respect other's opinions even if I don't agree with them. Nathaniel Branden respecting-others opinion self-esteem The world belongs to those who persevere. Nathaniel Branden embrace-life persevere world Capitalism, by its nature, entails a constant process of motion, growth and progress. Nathaniel Branden progress growth process Your life is important. Fight for it. Honour your highest potentials. Nathaniel Branden fighting important self-esteem In the whole history of capitalism, no one has been able to establish a coercive monopoly by means of competition in a free market...Every single coercive monopoly that exists or ever has existed...was created and made possible only by an act of government...which granted special privileges (not obtainable in a free market) to a man or a group of men, and forbade all others to enter that particular field. Nathaniel Branden competition men mean Self-esteem is a powerful force within each of us... Self-esteem is the experience that we are appropriate to life and to the requirements of life. Nathaniel Branden self-respect powerful self-esteem Set goals that don't feel all that easy, that challenge you, stimulate you, and give you a chance to stretch and push yourself. That is where the power of growth lies. Nathaniel Branden goal giving lying Accepting does not necessarily mean liking, enjoying, condoning. I can accept what is-and be determined to evolve from there. It is not acceptance but denial that leaves me stuck. Nathaniel Branden acceptance doe mean If you do not feel deserving of happiness, consciously or subconsciously, or if you have accepted the idea that happiness is somehow wrong or cannot last, you will not respond appropriately when happiness comes knocking at your door in the form of romantic love. No matter how much you may have waited and cried, you will not welcome love when it arrives-you will find a way to sabotage it. What a challenge to resist this temptation! What an opportunity for true spiritual growth and transformation-to defy your negative feelings and honor the gift that life offers you! Nathaniel Branden spiritual opportunity love Loving consciously does not mean subjecting your relationship to endless analysis. It means something much simpler: paying attention. Noticing. This requires presence. Nathaniel Branden doe love mean The natural inclination of a child is to take pleasure in the use of the mind no less than of the body. The child's primary business is learning. It is also the primary entertainment. To retain that orientation into adulthood, so that consciousness is not a burden but a joy, is the mark of the successfully developed human being. Nathaniel Branden mind joy children
