We need to deny self, not esteem. Truly we need to repent of the sin of playing God. Man is preoccupied with self. Self has become the predominant theme of a large percentage of Christian books and sermons. People are buying all kinds of self-help books, but self does not need help.
Self needs death.
We must either deny self or deny Christ. It is either one or the other. Turn from self and turn to God. That is the old lie in the new age. The New Age movement embraces and proclaims this lie.