Self-Esteem Research, Theory, and Practice Toward a Positive ...

A Two-Factor Self-Esteem Enhancement Program 217A good self-esteem project is therefore highly individualized. It mustaccommodate a personal range of possibilities, take into account variousindividual qualities, and fit with the current environment or unique circumstances.For instance, a self-esteem enhancement project aimed atincreasing competence for an individual who is challenged mentallywould look different from one for a person who was doing reasonablywell in life but who wishes to do better. In the first case, the goal of learninghow to find the right bus home from work might be a major achievement.In the second, aiming for an award or promotion might be a fittinggoal. Sometimes people doom themselves to failure by picking goals thatare too high for them right now or by selecting ones that cannot be supportedby their current environments, which is why we must often helpthem to make realistic adjustments in their plan. In all cases, developinga self-esteem project is like preparing for a trip in that the more planningone does, the more likely one is to reach the destination.Now, we ask people to write down each and every step they musttake to reach the goal they have identified. If the aim, for instance, is towork on bodily functioning (which includes physical functioning, as wellas body image issues) by developing an exercise program, then the individualis asked to be specific about how this will happen. It might meantrying out several sports. If so, then the individual must indicate the initialsteps needed to experiment in this way such as calling theYMCA/YWCA, joining a club, or finding a friend involved in a relevantactivity. If the individual decides to join the “Y”, then he or she must findout how much the program costs, set aside a day to go to the gym, talkwith a trainer, try a certain number of activities, and so on. If someonemakes becoming more likable the goal, then he or she needs to considersuch things as becoming involved in a community activity or learningbetter interpersonal communication skills. Depending on which activityis selected, there is often a need to develop a list of organizations, contactfriends, make phone calls, meet with a few groups, and try out the activityuntil something suitable is found. Similarly, assertiveness training is apopular project and a well-established self-esteem enhancement activity.But it also means finding a qualified trainer nearby, seeing how much itcosts, finding low-cost alternatives if necessary, and making schedulescompatible.Focusing on these mundane details is positive for a number of reasons,ranging from such platitudes as “A journey of a thousand milesbegins with a single step,” or “Inch by inch, it’s a cinch,” to the simple factthat small successes can lead to larger ones. At this point, I present myown self-esteem enhancement goals and ask members to help me developthe specific action steps necessary to improve in this area so that they cansee how it is done through modeling. Then, I encourage volunteers to