The Self-Esteem Guided Journal: A 10-Week Program

by Matthew McKay, Catharine Sutker

Since its publication in 1987, Self-Esteem by Matthew McKay and Patrick Fanning has set the standard for self-help books that seek to improve self-esteem. With more than 600,000 copies sold through its three editions, Self-Esteem has helped hundreds of thousands of readers learn to think more positively about themselves, bringing them greater happiness, success, and peace of mind. But Self-Esteem is more than just one book. The Self-Esteem Companion, published in 1999, distilled the best techniques of the original book into sixty simple exercises that readers could learn and use when and wherever they went.


Now, the people who brought you Self-Esteem and The Self-Esteem Companion have once again adapted the inspiring techniques from the original book into a new and exciting project. This book uses a technique known as guided journaling to help readers teach themselves to vocalize their feelings, conquer self-doubt, discover their strengths-and generally change the way they think and feel about themselves for the better.


The Self-Esteem Guided Journal offers you a ten-week program of writing exercises that will help you shift your focus from the things wrong with your life to the things that are right. The book begins with a week of journaling about non-judgment regarding everything from people in the news to your own behavior. Weeks two and three guide you to discover your strengths and redefine your weaknesses. The exercises in weeks five and six help you review your past to see how formative events have affected your self-esteem. Week seven focuses on the impact of thoughts, while week eight works to help you learn how to hold to your own truths and stand up for yourself. In week nine, you'll directly explore your experiences with your own self-esteem Achilles heel, and finally, week ten helps you create daily opportunities to experience your personal worth and serves as a launching pad for future journaling activities.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2005

About the author

Matthew McKay, PhD, is a professor of psychology at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, and author of more than 30 professional psychology and self-help books which have sold a combined total of more than 3 million copies. He is co-founder of independent self-help publisher, New Harbinger Publications. He was the clinical director of Haight Ashbury Psychological Services in San Francisco for twenty five years. He is current director of the Berkeley CBT Clinic. An accomplished novelist and poet, his poetry has appeared in two volumes from Plum Branch Press and in more than sixty literary magazines. His most recent novel, Wawona Hotel, was
published by Boaz Press in 2008.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today I complete my 10-week self-esteem journal. It really helped me to find the source of my confidence issues. I had to dig deep into my past, to old hurts, traumatic events and painful memories. I still need to work on loving my physical appearance. I’m still going to read about self-esteem. It takes time to build confidence. It’s something I need to do so I can move forward into my life and do things I’ve never dreamed of doing.

[Genevieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was decently helpful in assisting with identification of the roots of poor self-esteem. Most of it was pretty surface level, in my opinion. I do a lot of self-examination and meditation on my own, so there was very little in this guided journal that I had not already thought of or analyzed on my own. I suppose though that it would be helpful for people who haven't already spent time trying to get to the root of self-esteem issues. It does a good job of breaking it up so that readers aren't overwhelmed trying to process everything at the same time.

[Dan Stern · Rating 3 out of 5]

Journaling is probably one of the best ways to learn about yourself and come to terms with who you really are, what you want to do with your life, and the obstacles that stand in your way. A dedicated journal writer often finds him or herself filling up numerous journals and notebooks full of writing. While this amount of writing may be quite useful in the search for self, often the writer finds him or herself writing in circles and never getting to the heart of their issues.

The Self-Esteem Guided Journal is the answer. This ten week journaling programs leads the journal writer through daily journaling themes. These themes are extremely relevant, taking the self seeker through self esteem related issues such as an unbalanced self portrait, history of your self esteem, how the shoulds rule your life, and living your own truth. These are aspects of the self that every person could probably use a little attention and analysis.
5 people found this helpful

[Kristie Storie Winston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This guided journal really gave me a lot to think about! The most important thing is to forgive yourself for the past and stay true to yourself and your values. Understand your strengths and your values and don’t let anyone from the past, present or future take that away from you.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journaling is probably one of the best ways to learn about yourself and come to terms with who you really are, what you want to do with your life, and the obstacles that stand in your way. A dedicated journal writer often finds him or herself filling up numerous journals and notebooks full of writing. While this amount of writing may be quite useful in the search for self, often the writer finds him or herself writing in circles and never getting to the heart of their issues.

The Self-Esteem Guided Journal is the answer. This ten week journaling programs leads the journal writer through daily journaling themes. These themes are extremely relevant, taking the self seeker through self esteem related issues such as an unbalanced self portrait, history of your self esteem, how the shoulds rule your life, and living your own truth. These are aspects of the self that every person could probably use a little attention and analysis.

[J Crossley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains ten weeks of guided journal entries to help build your self-esteem. I liked how the exercises built upon one another, and became deeper and deeper.

[Ron Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Boomk