Self-esteem"Deep
inside,
I
had
of
inadequacy
and
inferiority."
Basic
Text,
p.
112
Somewhere
along
the
way,
many
of
us
developed
strong
feelings
of
inadequacy
and
inferiority.
Deep
inside
was
a
voice
that
continually
cried
out,
"You're
worthless!"
Many
of
us
learn
to
recognize
this
characteristic
of
low
self-esteem
very
early
in
our
recovery.
Some
of
us
may
feel
that
our
feelings
of
inferiority
were
where
all
our
problems
began.
Whether
we
learn
this
low
self-esteem
in
our
families
or
through
our
interactions
with
others,
in
NA
we
learn
the
tools
for
reclaiming
ourselves.
Building
up
our
fractured
self-esteem
sometimes
begins
by
simply
accepting
a
service
position.
Or
perhaps
our
phone
begins
to
ring,
and
for
the
first
time
people
are
calling
just
to
see
how
we
are.
They
don't
want
anything
from
us
but
to
reach
out
and
help.
Next
we
get
a
sponsor,
someone
who
teaches
us
that
we
are
worthwhile
and
believes
in
us
until
we
can
believe
in
ourselves.
Our
sponsor
guides
us
through
the
Twelve
Steps
where
we
learn
who
we
really
are,
not
who
we
have
built
ourselves
up
or
down
to
be.
Low
self-esteem
doesn't
go
away
overnight.
Sometimes
it
takes
years
for
us
to
really
get
in
touch
with
ourselves.
But
with
the
help
of
other
members
of
NA
who
share
our
same
feelings,
and
by
working
the
Twelve
Steps,
we
blossom
into
individuals
that
others
and,
most
importantly,
we
ourselves
respect.
Just
for
today:
I
will
remember
that
I
am
deserving
of
my
Higher
Power's
love.
I
know
that
I
am
a
worthy
human
being.
