This chapter of Meditations serves as a good reminder that we cannot measure who we are based on other people. However we are still part of others. We are still part of the whole and work for the common good. Much comes down to your self-esteem.

The research on the connections between self-esteem and relationship satisfaction is quite extensive. Not only does your self-esteem influence how you think about yourself, but it also plays a role in your ability to receive and accept love from others. It even plays a role in how you treat others in your life.

When you enter into a relationship with lower self-esteem, you are more likely to feel greater dissatisfaction over time, and your partner is likely to become unhappier, as well. Your self-esteem is born from early life experiences and continues to develop over time.