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First Posted: 6/26/2014 &#8220;Every women deserves to feel worthy and recognize her amazing self,&#8221; Deb Pavlico says.
And she&#8217;s just the person to help women achieve that.
Upon meeting Pavlico, independent of any verbal exchange or understanding of her life history, folks say they instantly feel better about themselves. She seems to genuinely celebrate and appreciate the lives of others.
Those meeting her for the first time often say they feel like they have known her their entire lives.
Lucky for her readers, Pavlico has been able to translate this enthusiasm for life and love for others, into her first literary offering, &#8220;Conversations with Women, the Journey toward Self-Esteem.&#8221;
A Pittston native, Pavlico, counselor and psychotherapist, incorporates not only her education and experience, but her very self into the book. Willing to be transparent about her own life journey, she has produced a book that the is fresh and informative, inviting women to confidently and joyfully move forward in their own lives.
Her journey has been marked with diverse opportunities and experiences. Originally working in the financial services industry for 15 years, she purposefully shifted her perspective and was able to refashion her life as a therapist, assisting others in reaching their own potential.
Pavlico uses five interviews to provide a glimpse into the stories of women who at some time in their lives struggled with self-doubt in spite of wonderful personalities, successful careers, and excellent parenting skills.
Those &#8220;interviews&#8221; were true conversations, often over a cup of coffee, sometimes late at night. Eschewing formality, Pavlico said she was privileged to glimpse into the hearts and minds of women, who, in turn, valued her. She uses the word &#8220;beautiful feelings,&#8221; to describe the emotions experienced by women during times of both victory and challenge.
The book draws readers into the lives of women depicted within its pages and willing to share of themselves. Each page, each story further dispels the myth that self-esteem is based on &#8220;one more accomplishment,&#8221; rather than simply a healthy and positive self-concept.
Pavlico emphasizes that self-esteem is not a destination, but a journey.
None of those interviewed said they &#8220;had arrived,&#8221; instead prided themselves on continuing to craft their lives with such tools as positive self-talk and healthy relationships.
Pavlico is not afraid to address the &#8220;hard topics&#8221; such as divorce, parenting, and financial challenges. A truly fulfilling life is not lived without challenges, she says, but rather with a sense of confidence that tells us &#8220;I can do this.&#8221;
Positive voices of affirmation also come from other men and women who encourage us to clothe ourselves with self-assurance and joy, as we move toward our best selves.
In her conversation with &#8220;Ruth,&#8221; Pavlico encourages readers to celebrate the successes of others. &#8220;Women need to make a habit of supporting each other,&#8221; Pavlico said. &#8220;We need to be kind to others, and we need to be kind to ourselves.&#8221;
Her interactions with members of the community are upbeat and personal. As she moves through her day, she often takes a moment to hug a friend, to shake a hand, or to get to know someone.
Ginger Murphy, who shares Pavlico&#8217;s love for the area in general and Pittston in particular, describes her as &#8220;an amazing friend, a true intellect, a wonderful person.&#8221;
Pavlico emphasizes self-esteem is not conceit; rather it is a sense of personal efficacy and personal worth. It is the confident assurance that I am capable and worthy of fully living the life that I have been given.
The book also speaks to the need of women to provide role models within their own families. For example, she writes that when a dad asks a daughter for a kiss, he needs to accept &#8220;no&#8221; as an acceptable answer, treating his children with the same respect he hopes they will experience in future relationships.
The book encourages women to embrace who they are and to value their uniqueness. One reader, reflecting on the aging process, said that she looks forward to accepting wrinkles and valuing gray hair as a show of wisdom.
Pavlico comes to the writing arena with a diverse background that lends credibility to her subject matter. She holds a Bachelor&#8217;s Degree in Business Administration from Wilkes University and a Master&#8217;s Degree in Community Counseling from the University of Scranton. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a part time professor at Marywood University.
Her self-esteem and real joy, however, don&#8217;t come from a list of achievements or a career path, but in her willingness to build real relationships with others, to occasionally forgive herself, and to continue to grow.
When told that her ability as an author seems to have come naturally, miling, she said, &#8220;I always knew I would write.&#8221;
When asked if another book is in her future, Pavlico said she has had several topics suggested to her. But for now, she is busy letting others know about her current book, not to simply sell copies or make money, but to share the message that self-esteem is available to us, if we are willing to purposefully choose are thoughts and craft our lives.
The closing sentence of the book reveals Pavlico&#8217;s attitude about life. Having completed a successful book, with wonderful participation from successful women, filled with carefully chosen words, she considers the effort just a successful beginning.
She concludes with some of the most powerful words in the book, &#8220;Let the conversations begin!&#8221;
The book is available at Amazon.com.
Those interested in obtaining more information about the book and its author can reach Pavlico on Facebook .

Deb Pavlico hopes to guide women to self-esteem