Many categories of self have common characteristics, and there is value in exploring them. By understanding their distinctiveness, we may gain a clearer picture of how each of us fits into the world.

Self-Esteem Also known as self-worth, a person's self-esteem is forged during the first seven or eight years of life. By then the mind has created the critical faculty (also known as the critical factor) to filter incoming messages, thus protecting the impressionable and immature subconscious. Until that is in place, absolutely everything a child hears, sees, and experiences will fashion a core belief that could be a lifetime guide.

If, during this critical period, a child consistently hears, "You are so disorganized, you'll never amount to anything," or similar judgmental put-downs, there is a strong possibility that the person will experience self-sabotage in later life. In transactional analysis, the core belief is known as the parent and it relentlessly directs behavior. Low self-esteem is created in an atmosphere of conditional love, and subsequently reinforced through negative self-talk. Unfortunately, contrary evidence is usually disregarded.

Some people endeavor to bolster their self-esteem through external elements, like marriage, alliance with others, and even the accumulation of money, titles, and degrees. While surrounding oneself with positive people has its benefits, it is problematic to define the self through external trappings.

Although it is a good thing to be proud of accomplishments, it is essential for people to make a clear distinction between their identities and their accomplishments.

All other "selves" emanate from self-esteem, that is, they take cues from the quality of the self-esteem. A fragile self-esteem will spawn weakness. A sound self-esteem, built in an environment of unconditional love, will sponsor resilient self-identities.

Self-awareness is the ability to reflect on our thought processes. We can become aware of many signals received from our bodies. We are not our feelings, thoughts, behaviors, and moods. These are simply processes that we experience and are not a "part" of our essence. We are able to objectively scrutinize the way we see ourselves. This social mirror of our place within humankind allows us to evaluate the roles of nature and nurture in our own attitudes and behaviors.

Self-acceptance is the coming to terms with who we are right now, just as we are