Discussion: Five That Mattered Oprah Winfrey says, "Each of us arrives with all we need to feel valued and unique, but slowly that gets chipped away." She is correct, but some life experiences do cause us to increase the value we place on ourselves. After careful reflection on your childhood and adolescence, identify the five events or people who had a significant impact (positive or negative) on your self-esteem. Think of these experiences as "defining moments" in your life.