Healthy self-esteem is the yeast in the recipe of learning. Studies into the intellectual-emotional connections in the human brain show that the affective domain is the gateway to the cognitive domain and so effective ways to raise self-esteem, which are covered in this booklet, are an important component of education. The first part of the text explores the nature of self-esteem, asking what it is, how it is formed, what are its sources, and how self-esteem functions. Self-esteem is presented as the reputation we have with ourselves and it serves as both a barometer of confidence and as a rudder for navigating the waters of learning. Ways to connect the self and learning are explored in the next section, which also covers the difference between self-esteem and egotism, some causes of low self-esteem, and ways to protect, maintain, and enhance learners' self-esteem. A model, which offers strategies for increasing self-esteem, is offered along with suggestions for helping learners cope with damaged self-esteem, such as the importance of minimizing negatives. Ways to bolster self-esteem in the adult learner are also reviewed. (RJM)