Growing up, I had many ideas about what I wanted to do with my life. At one point, I wanted to be a veterinarian because I just love my dog so much. And then I realized I was on the swim team, so I should be a marine biologist and go swim with the dolphins. And then my parents sent me to marine biology camp where we had to dissect a fish. and I no longer wanted to do that. Then I wanted to be an actor and I sent in an audition tape to a Disney Channel open casting call. They did not call me back and that's ...

Core Argument - Low self-esteem is a hidden danger linked to tragic outcomes and can prevent individuals from achieving their full potential [1][2][3] - Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) significantly impact self-esteem, with 62% of adults having at least one ACE [7][8] - Knowledge about ACEs is beneficial, with 100% of those who learn about them likely to benefit because they are better informed [9] Strategies for Improvement - Helping others can build the foundation for self-esteem [13][14] - Achieving goals provides a way to objectively measure abilities and worth [15] - Positive affirmations can counter negative self-talk [16] Call to Action - Individuals should ask hard questions to determine if low self-esteem is impacting their happiness and success and then take action [17] - It is important to turn pain into the power to live a fulfilled, healthy life with healthy self-esteem [18]