FAQs

Q:  What does the Queen of Self-Esteem® do?

A:  I help people get in touch with their own self-esteem and learn how to maintain it – which feels great! I use songs, stories and creative activities to make it fun.

Q:  Why do you dress up in colorful costumes?  

A:  I love fashion and it’s interesting to me personally to try and express self-esteem (or the lack of it) with costumes. Self-esteem is a highly personal subject and my costumes make it safe and fun for people to open up.  Some of the costumes make specific points about self-esteem, and they help people remember the message.

Q:  What is self-esteem, and where do you think it comes from?

A:  There's actually been a lot of debate about what self-esteem is.  I believe esteem is connected to love.  Sometimes we are lucky enough to get it from other people.  At other times we must give it to ourselves.  I like M. Scott Peck's definition of love in A Road Less Traveled – the idea that love means extending yourself for your own or another's growth.  The California Task Force to Promote Self-Esteem came up with a definition that I also find helpful.  They said that having self-esteem means appreciating one's own worth and importance while having the character to be accountable for one's self and to act responsibly toward others.

Q:  Do you teach self-esteem?  Can we really teach it?

A:  Yes I believe we can learn self-esteem, just like we learn to brush our teeth and wash our faces daily. Self-care is a basic life skill and it extends to working with our minds and feelings. For example, we can all be taught to recognize self-criticism and cope with it.  I remind people of their own inherent wisdom and share tools they can use to navigate life's challenges.

Q:  Can a person have too much self-esteem?

A:  Sometimes there's a concern that if we educate children about self-worth, they will become "stuck on themselves" or "big-headed."  But arrogance and self-esteem are not the same thing.  I find that dialog about self-esteem is of equal help to shy children and to children who might have a tendency to brag – it centers everyone.

Q:  Are your programs just for girls?

A:  No, I enjoy working with boys too and have found them to be very responsive to the subject of self-esteem.  I tell them that they are Kings of Themselves, which they like a lot!  Self-esteem is a universal subject that impacts everyone, of every age, sex and color.

Q:  Does talking about esteem really make a difference?

A:  People tell me that it does! Given that millions of children and adults struggle with eating disorders, alcoholism, drug abuse and other issues, I think talking about esteem is an absolute must.

Queen of Self-Esteem® and the "Q with Crown" logo are registered trademarks owned by Queen of Self-Esteem LLC.