Similarly, if you have high self-esteem, you might still know times of emotional suffering, but less often and with a faster recovery, because your resilience is greater. Its presence does not guarantee fulfillment, but its absence guarantees some measure of anxiety, frustration and despair. Some people, when they face new challenges initially perceived as intimidating or overwhelming, may suffer a temporary dip in the level of their self-esteem. Then, as they persevere and master the new challenges, self-esteem rises again. Such fluctuations are normal.
Every value pertaining to life requires action to maintain it.
If we do not continue to breathe, the breathing we did yesterday will not keep us alive today. The same principle applies to self-esteem and the practices that support it. If we have succeeded in building good self-esteem, this does not mean that we now drop those practices without harm to ourselves. If we do not choose to sustain these practices, if we elect to operate mindlessly, irresponsibly, without integrity, then there is no way for self-esteem to avoid being adversely affected. Neither a business, nor a marriage, nor a soul can be kept alive and healthy without continuous effort.