Mark 12

29 Jesus replied, “The most important one is this: ‘Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord.

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

31 The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment more important than these two.”

53% of adults feel their self-esteem is worse since the pandemic.

85% of people are affected by low self-esteem in the world today. — Dr. Joe Rubino

60% of people wished they had more respect for themselves. — Self Love Index Studies

1 in 5 women feels confident in their appearance.

Issues with body image can cause men to suffer from depression, anxiety, social isolation and low self esteem. — Bradley University

Research shows Instagram to be the most damaging social media platform for self-esteem. — RSPH

Nearly eight out of ten women expressed trouble with their self-esteem. — The WealthiHer Network

94% of teen girls in the US have been shamed for their body size. — Yahoo Health

Male cosmetic surgery has increased approximately 325%.

72% of girls feel excessive pressure to be attractive. — Dove’s Self Esteem Project

Studies show that social media can cause low self esteem and negative thinking. — Digital Information World

By age 13, 53% of American girls are unhappy with their bodies. — National Institute on Media and Family

4 in 5 men would not describe themselves as attractive. — GH Study

Low self-esteem is linked to violence, school dropout rates, teenage pregnancy, suicide, and low academic achievement. — Misetich & Delis-Abrams

Absent fathers, poverty, and a low-quality home environment have a negative impact on self-esteem. — Orth, 2018

Rates of anxiety and depression have increased 70% in the past 25 years. — Royal Society for Public Health, 2022

Studies have shown that social media has the power to be more addictive than alcohol or cigarettes.

Seven out of 10 young people report experiencing cyber-bullying through social media. — Royal Society for Public Health, 2022

Young people who use social networking sites for more than two hours per day are more likely to report poor mental health, including psychological distress. — Royal Society for Public Health, 2022

Low self-esteem has been associated with a number of psychological, physical, and social consequences that may influence successful adolescent development and the transition to adulthood, including depression, anxiety, suicide and disordered eating, violent behavior, earlier initiation of sexual activity, and substance use. — Auden C. McClure, MD — Susanne E. Tanski, MD — James D. Sargent, MD

50% of men surveyed said they don’t believe they are intelligent. — GH Study

55% of men don’t think they are liked by others. — GH Study

The average child hears 432 negative statements per day, but only 32 positive statements each day. — University of Iowa

80 percent of children entering the first grade scored high on the self-esteem inventory. By the fifth grade only 20 percent of the children were scoring high. And by the time they graduated from high school that number was down to just 5 percent. — Jack Canfield, Chicken Soup for the Soul

Hebrews 10:35 — So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

Psalm 139:13-14 You formed the way I think and feel. You put me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way. I know how amazing that is!

Philippians 1:6 — I am sure that the good work God began in you will continue until he completes it on the day when Jesus Christ comes again.

2 Timothy 1:7 — The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control.

Philippians 4:13 — I can do all this through him who gives me strength.