Guest Author - Angela England

International Boost Self-Esteem Month make this the perfect week to do some internal soul-searching.

February 5th - This month is the International Boost Self-Esteem month. What is one thing that you could add to, or eliminate from, your life to increase your self-esteem? Why have you not done so yet?

February 6th - When I think about self-esteem now, I usually think about how I can help my daughter develop a health sense of self-esteem. What does a healthy sense of self-esteem look like to you? What is the difference between self-esteem and self-arrogance?

February 7th - It seems like with suicides, eating disorders and depression on the rise, self-esteem issues are a difficult topic to address. Why do you think so many young people struggle with self-esteem today? I hear people blame many things about our culture: media, Hollywood, the cultural break away from Christian world-view, pressure to succeed, parental distance and business, etc.

What do you think contributes to the problem? What can we do to minimize these contributing factors in the lives of those around us?

February 8th - Today is World Marriage Day. Have you ever noticed that for some people, their self-esteem is tied up in their marriage? I have seen very capable, intelligent people who walk around utterly defeated because of an unhappy, unsupportive spouse. On the other hand, I have seen seemingly ordinary people who absolutely glow with a radiance of self-confidence that makes you want to get to know them better. Explore this idea in your writing today.

February 9th - Thinking about self-esteem and relationships ask yourself: How does your self-esteem influence your relationships with those you care about?

February 10th - This week is the Celebration of Love week. Think about a time in your life when you felt loved. Describe what that was like. How do memories like that influence your self-esteem today? How do those times of feeling loved shape who you are as a person now?

February 11th - Thinking more about celebrating love I am reminded of the Scripture verse that says "Perfect love casts out fear". I think that is such a powerful statement of being so confident in your choice to love, that you are no longer worried about the potential risks that love brings. Think about a time when you loved someone or something with a strong conviction. Describe that love journey in your journal today.

Stop by the forums and share the answers to your journaling prompts if you want.