"Without self-acceptance, self-esteem is impossible" writes Dr. Nathaniel Branden in The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem.

What is self-esteem and why does it matter? Self-esteem is the way in which one experiences themselves.  A person with healthy self-esteem experiences themselves as capable of handling life's basic challenges and as being worthy of love and happiness.  A person with unhealthy self-esteem experiences themselves as being incapable of handling life's difficulties and as being unworthy of joy and love.