Feeling Good by Doing Good: A Guide to Authentic Self-Esteem and Well-Being

Recent Years Have Seen A Surprising Shift Concerning The Concept Of Self-esteem, With Some Researchers Attacking The Notion Of Self-esteem As Being Of Little Value Or Too Difficult To Study. Educators Emphasized Self-esteem's Importance In Schools To The Extent That Sometimes It Became More Important Than Academic Performance. And A Parade Of Overly-simple And Ineffective Self-help Books Promote The Importance Of Self-esteem But Seldom Deliver Real Change. Coming To The Defense Of Self-esteem As A Valuable And Measurable Component Of Good Mental Health, Feeling Good By Doing Good Offers A New Evidence-based Approach To Defining, Understanding, And Increasing What Is Known As Authentic Self-esteem. Translating Decades Of Research In The Fields Of Self-esteem, Humanistic Psychology, Positive Psychology, And Psychotherapy Into Everyday Terms, Christopher Mruk Traces The Definition Of Self-esteem Back To When It Was First Used To Describe The Value Of Doing That Which Is Both Just And Right. Seen This Way, Self-esteem Is Not Just Feeling Good About Oneself - Rather, It Comes From Facing Life's Challenges In Ways That Demonstrate One's Competence And Worth As A Person. This Approach To Self-esteem Offers Several New And Powerful Advantages, Namely Understanding Different Types Of Self-esteem, Clarifying The Connection Between Self-esteem And Self-control, Appreciating How Self-esteem Operates In Various Domains Of Life Such As Work Or Relationships, Realizing That Self-esteem Acts As An Internal Compass To Help Steer Us In Healthier Directions, And Recognizing The Connection Between Authentic Self-esteem And Basic Human Values. Featuring Clinical And Everyday Vignettes, Practical Exercises Aimed At Enhancing Personal As Well As Interpersonal Well-being, And Thought-provoking Self-assessments For The Reader, Feeling Good By Doing Good Is A Unique Resource That Will Be Of Interest To Mental Health Professionals, Their Clients, And Laypersons Alike Interested In Substance Over Platitudes And Feel-good Solutions.