Book Review: "Building Self Esteem" By Joseph Burgo

Shame can either tear us down or propell us forward into a new realm of understanding and acceptance.

Whether we choose to get bitter or better is our choice.

Choose wisely but don't fall for the gaslighting, the bullies, the haters, and the narcissists who put you through the ringer for their own betterment.

Know your worth and your value and step forth with a new sense of pride.

You must have boundaries and realize that not everyone is rowing the boat in the same direction.
In my area we have so much corruption, nepotism, and backstabbing that it's common to have someone speak kindly and in the same token back stab you all in the same day.

You must take everything with a grain of salt and understand that even the professionals can be more harmful that helpful.

Not everyone is great at what they do including professionals and many don't understand just how destructive and painful dealing with narcissism can be especially the malignant form from the DSM manual.

I have been counseling others successfully for many years since my own revelations and dealings with shame, guilt, fear, etc. from abusive relationships including having a narcissistic family, narcissist as parents, and marrying into the same.

It's a cycle of perpetual violence and abuse and it can be stopped but only if we choose to say it ends with us.

What I enjoyed here was the real life stories that were so relatable and transferrable to every day lives.

The personal reflection and the thoughtful advice went beyond someone with ADD, or bipolar, or even narcissistic tendencies.

As a professional you cannot help everyone nor can you save everyone from the pain because sometimes refusal comes before acceptance and forgiveness.
Moving forward requires an openness and level of understanding and acknowledgment that change is possible but only if we are willing to want change.

I've seen my fair share of situations in which defensive postures come out, language becomes offensive, the discussion turns violent.

In this work Joseph addresses such wild emotions and responses with professionalism and honor and it was a pleasure to read about his own experiences as well as his clients in addressing these issues successfully or not.

Thank you to Joseph, the pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.