Self-Esteem: Looking Up Instead of Looking Inside is a 24-page mini-book by Leslie Vernick.
In this concise resource, Vernick asks "Who am I?" and examines how people often base their self-image on successes, failures, acceptance, or rejection by others. She explains that when our value and worth are derived from external sources rather than from what God says, our self-image becomes unstable and anxious. Vernick shows that healing low self-esteem does not come from trying harder, gaining popularity, acquiring more possessions, securing power, or achieving perfection. Instead, a healthy self-image combines the security of knowing God's love with the humility of recognizing our need for Christ.