As I reflect on the journey to build self-esteem that we have taken together over the past year, I am filled with gratitude and a deep sense of purpose. Writing these essays has not only allowed me to share insights and strategies to help you build self-esteem but has also given me the opportunity to connect with you, my audience. The stories, struggles, and triumphs of those with lived experience have inspired me more than words can express, and I hope that, in some small way, my words have been a source of encouragement and strength for you.

My name is Sean Gunderson, and I am the new author of "Building Self-Esteem." I am optimistic to begin writing for HealthyPlace. I hope that my unique lived experiences, along with my engaging personality, will help make my blog a place that you turn to for ideas and support in your life’s journey. In my own life’s journey, I have come to realize the importance of self-esteem and have learned how to cultivate it effectively.

My name is Teddy Muyeka, and I am passionate about sharing my mental health journey. I am glad to share my experiences here at "Building Self-Esteem" so that I can help others cope better with their struggles. I have lived with depression for a long time, and it has deeply affected my self-esteem. My coping mechanisms during this time, mostly avoidance, turned out to be causing more harm than good. It wasn’t until I started therapy that I started my journey to rebuild my self-confidence and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Today, I'd like to wish you all a sincere farewell, as this is my last post for the "Building Self-Esteem" blog. I've been thinking about my work here at HealthyPlace and would love to leave you with a few reflections.

My name is Will Redmond, and I’m a new author for HealthyPlace’s “Building Self-Esteem.” I’m so excited to open a dialogue about the ongoing mental health crisis and foster growth with you all. Low self-esteem is a challenging issue to tackle, but together we’ll work through steps to build a strong self-image and a positive outlook on life.

I’m Justin Hughes, and I’m thrilled to be joining "Building Self Esteem." This is a subject I have struggled with my entire life. In fact, I still struggle with it today. When HealthyPlace invited me to join this blog, I found the subject ironic, because, of my assorted mental health struggles, self-esteem is the one I have gotten over the least. I’ve made significant progress toward battling my negative self-talk, but I’ve hardly mastered it. Perhaps that’s precisely why I’m here.

I’m Jessica Kaley, and I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the "Building Self-Esteem" blog. I aim to answer questions like why self-esteem is important to our happiness and success, and how we can improve old pictures of ourselves that we still carry from the past.

My name is Britt Mahrer, I’m a new blogger at HealthyPlace. I’ll be writing on "Building Self-Esteem." This is a topic I’m passionate about and eager to explore. My own self-esteem exploration has taken me many unexpected places, including living as a monk in Thailand, musically directing a Broadway workshop, founding a non-profit organization, dancing and singing on a piano, teaching yoga and circus acrobatics, and fighting mixed martial arts (MMA). My journey with self-esteem has also taken me to some dark, miserable places I never thought I would escape. Needless to say, I have experienced many successes in my life and lived through many failures. 

Hello, I’m Fay Agathangelou and I’m thrilled to be writing for the Building Self-Esteem Blog. I am a former life coach, with a philosophy of living life to the fullest, and being the best person you can be. As well as holistic life coaching, I am particularly passionate about wellness and confidence building. I believe that having a healthy self-esteem is the key to following your dreams and living the life you want without the fears that hold so many people back. I also believe that embracing your individuality is vital for healthy self-esteem. It is important to be comfortable with who you are in order to live the best possible life. Uniqueness is what makes us all special so let’s embrace that. It is astonishing that so many people don’t see their overall worth as a person. They don’t see their good qualities and that gets in the way of their health and happiness.

Emily Roberts, MA, LPC, is known by many as The Guidance Girl. She is a trained psychotherapist, psychological consultant. She is also the author of Express Yourself: A Teen Girls Guide to Speaking Up and Being Who You Are. Her mission is to empower, inspire, and educate others. She is passionate about teaching her workshops about self-esteem and self-confidence. Her experience in private practice, academic settings and hospital settings helped her develop programs and workshops for children and adults of all ages, which focus on loving yourself and feeling your best. As an expert in the” millennium generation”, she frequently speaks to parents and schools on cyberbullying and technology related issues, as well as lectures on developing self-esteem and empowerment.