20th October, 2015
John Smith with Coral Chamberlain
Beyond the Myth of Self-Esteem: Finding fulfillment
Acorn Press, Moreland, Victoria, Australia, 2014
ISBN-13: 9780992447632
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"Long a passionate advocate for what it truly means to live in Christian community, Smith eventually returns to that theme here, noting in conclusion that it’s in a self-sacrificing life lived helping others – and surrendered to something greater than ourselves – that true purpose in life can be found. In his experience, no-where more so than as a follower of Christ." |
“For the most important person in the world. You.” So went a now famous ad for a financial services company aired in Australia some years back in what is often quoted as a reflection of the prevailing social view that when it comes to finding happiness or contentment, the individual – you – matter most of all.
In Beyond the Myth of Self-Esteem: Finding Fulfillment, God Squad founder, pastor, speaker and social commentator John Smith tackles that view head-on as he confronts the ramifications of the ongoing rise of individualism within Western society, fueled by the glorification of self-esteem as the answer to all our ills.
Smith takes the reader on a journey as he pulls apart some of the “myths” which have arisen with regard to self-esteem – including that you can be whoever you want to be, that you must look good to feel good (heard that from any reality TV shows recently?), and that happiness is all about having good self-esteem (which means, for example, not letting children fail at anything least you damage their image of themselves – a view which Smith says can lead towards narcissism).
In his efforts to expose the hollowness of such a position, Smith embarks upon a detailed exploration of why we, as a society, have become so focused on the self in our bid to find contentment and the harm that has befallen society as a result before turning to the answers.
Smith doesn’t pull any punches when looking at the ‘self-esteem myths’, calling out those “self-esteem gurus” including some within the church, whom he says, despite their concerted efforts, are not making Western societies “emotionally healthier and happier”.
Long a passionate advocate for what it truly means to live in Christian community, Smith eventually returns to that theme here, noting in conclusion that it’s in a self-sacrificing life lived helping others – and surrendered to something greater than ourselves – that true purpose in life can be found. In his experience, no-where more so than as a follower of Christ.
Written so that it feels at times more like you’re having a conversation with him than reading a book with plenty of asides drawn from his own, well-travelled, experience as well as from the writings of everyone from US psychologist Martin Seligman to Australian social commentator Clive Hamilton and Mother Teresa, there’s nonetheless plenty of meat to chew on.
Yes, you may have heard some of the arguments before, but, enlivened with Smith’s anecdotes and reflections on the subject, it’s certainly worth grappling with them again.
Follow this link to buy this book – Beyond the Myth of Self-Esteem: Finding Fulfilment
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