The Virtue of Inner Strength: Developing Extraordinary Resilience through the Power of Self-Esteem

by Nathaniel Branden, Laurie Branden (Introduction)

Overview

Discover The Virtue of Inner Strength by renowned self-esteem pioneer Nathaniel Branden, a compelling new work that reinvigorates his foundational insights while introducing a powerful new chapter: Self-Esteem as a Spiritual Discipline. Branden—who authored nearly 20 transformative books, including The Psychology of Self-Esteem and The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem—was among the first psychologists to rigorously define self-esteem as the experience of being competent to cope and worthy of happiness.  In this essential new volume, Branden blends his hallmark psychological clarity with a fresh spiritual lens, showing how self-esteem is not only a path to personal wellbeing but also a deeper quest of consciousness and integrity.

In The Virtue of Inner Strength, you’ll:

• Learn why self-esteem is your most important right—and how defending it is essential for genuine happiness.
• Understand Branden’s classic insight: “Self-esteem is the reputation you get with yourself,” developed through competent, confident, courageous action—while misguided actions chip away at your inner strength.
• Explore his practical self-esteem methods—living consciously, accepting responsibility, integrity, purposefulness, assertiveness, and selfacceptance—each building deep psychological resilience.

The benefits for the reader:

• A renewed sense of personal agency: build trust in your mind and expand confidence that you deserve success, love, and fulfillment.
• Emotional resilience: confront self-doubt, face fears, and channel discomfort as fuel for personal growth.
• Spiritual clarity: deepen your connection to reality and develop a consciousness rooted in truth, purpose, and integrity.
• Lifeaffirming habits: cultivate lifelong practices—living consciously, self-responsibly, and with integrity—that protect your inner strength even when challenged.
• Holistic balance: integrate psychological insight with spiritual discipline to emerge as a whole, self-empowered person.

New in this edition: Self-Esteem as a Spiritual Discipline
Branden elevates self-esteem from a psychological need to a spiritual practice—a disciplined way of orienting your awareness, truthfulness, and personal integrity. You’ll discover:

• How self-esteem differs from fleeting self-image—a deep container for your thoughts, feelings, and responses.
• * Why self-esteem is more than “feel good”; when grounded in reality and built through the “six pillars,” it transforms into a spiritual achievement.

In a culture that often confuses self-esteem with vanity or entitlement, Branden’s work stands firm: true self-esteem is earned, grounded, and crucial for navigating life’s complexities. The Virtue of Inner Strength is your comprehensive guide to building an unshakable foundation of inner power—both practical and profound—rooted in psychological insight and spiritual depth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781722507442
Publisher:	G&D Media
Publication date:	05/12/2026
Pages:	162
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Nathaniel Branden, Ph.D. was a lecturer, a practicing psychotherapist, and the author of twenty books on the psychology of self-esteem, romantic love, and the life and thought of Objectivist philosopher Ayn Rand. His work has been translated into eighteen languages and has sold more than 4 million copies, and includes such titles as Taking Responsibility, The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, and My Years with Ayn Rand. Branden's name has become synonymous with the psychology of self-esteem, a field he pioneered more than thirty years ago.

Laurie Branden was married to Nathaniel Branden from 2006 until his death in 2024.