‘Je suis un chat’. That means ‘I am a cat’ in French.

I was taught that when I was, ooh, let’s see, maybe 11 years old? I studied French until I was 18, in fact I was quite good at it.

Despite the fact that my teacher said I had one of the worst accents she had ever heard, I got a good grade ‘A’ Level.

I think can actually remember saying ‘Je suis un chat’ in the spoken exam.

Whereas this phrase – ‘I am a strong and worthy person’ – Or this one – ‘I can achieve anything I want to achieve’ –

Well, no, I can’t remember being taught either of those.

Ok, I can accept the possibility that if I come back in the next life as a cat, (who lives in France), it might be fairly handy to be able to say ‘Je suis un chat’, but *this* is what I struggle with, *this* is what keeps me awake at night…

Why, oh why, was I taught that phrase, but not the other two?

‘I am a strong and worthy person.’ ‘I can achieve anything I want to achieve.’

These two, repeated morning and night, outloud, and often throughout the day, will give you an increased level of self-esteem immediately.

Don’t believe me?

Try it. Go on, right now as you read this, say it outloud, ‘I am a strong and worthy person’. You will *feel* stronger and worthier.

If we accept the failings of our education, as well as appreciating the good bits, we can see the gaps in our knowledge, and educate ourselves.

Self-esteem books cost only a few dollars, or you can get them in a library. Most of us make no effort whatsoever to educate ourselves in adult life. We rely on what we were taught at school, and in my view that’s the reason most of us don’t even come close to realising our life’s potential.

If you take the time to look at yourself, learn something new, you can wrestle back the reins of your life and take your life in whatever direction you choose.

Teach yourself and reap the rewards. You might not have been taught it at school, but by jiminy you can teach yourself now!

So why *aren’t* we taught self-esteem at school? Je ne sais pas! (I don’t know!)