Self-Esteem is our self concept

 - TSK. Raman

There is a story about a farmer who was growing pumpkins on his land. Just for now reason he put a small pumpkin hanging by the vine into a glass jar. At harvest time, he saw that the pumpkin had grown, equivalent only to the size and took the shape of the jar. Just as the pumpkin could not grow beyond the boundaries restricting it, you cannot perform beyond your imaginary mental boundaries of your self-concept, whatever those boundaries may be.

There is a direct relationship between people’s feelings and their productivity. High self-esteem is evident in respect for one’s self, others, property, law, parents and in several other aspects. The reverse is also true. Low self-esteem could lead to extremes of behavior.

What a man thinks of himself: that is what determines, or rather indicates, his fate. – Henry David Thoreau

A beggar was sitting at a train station with a bowl full of pencils. A young executive passed by and dropped a dollar into the bowl, but didn't take any pencils. He then boarded the train. Just before the doors of the train was to be closed the executive rushed out of the train and ran to the beggar. He grabbed a bunch of pencils and said, “I will take some. I've picked the right quantity for the dollar I gave and I know it is priced right. After all you are a businessman now and so am I,” saying this he dashed off once again to the train.

Several months later, this executive was attending a party. The beggar was there too, dressed in a suit and tie. The beggar recognized went up to him and said, You probably do not recognize me, but I remember you.” 

He then narrated the incident that had happened six months ago at the railway station.

The executive said, “ Now that you remind me, I do recall the incident vividly, and that you were begging. What are you doing here now, in a suit and tie?”

The beggar replied, “You probably do not know what you did with my dignity with your act that day six months ago. Instead of giving me charity, you treated me like a businessman and gave me a price for what you took. You parted by saying the price was right for what you picked and gave a parting shot – after all you are a businessman and so am I. 

 After you left, I thought to myself – what am I and what was I doing here? 

Why am I begging? 

Quickly I decided to do something constructive with my life. I packed my bag, started working here and there, made some money, saved some money, started a business and today I own a number of mobile stationery shops, and so here I am today proud of my accomplishments, sharing the floor with several other businessmen. I just want to thank you for giving me the dignity, that incident changed my life. That was a magic moment, and from then on nothing is the same.”

What is it that changed the beggar’s life?

The answer is pretty simple it was his self-esteem. This is the magic of self-esteem in our lives. This is the most crucial component in determining whether we are a success or a failure.