Self-Worth

It is a value we have learned to intuitively confer to ourselves in the face of the external world.

I wasn't sure if I was ready to write about this. It felt that it was a topic that was a little too exposed to write about, But the truth is that if I hadn't begun, I never would have.

Our self-worth shows up in everything that we do. Right from how we speak to ourselves, to how we perceive the world, and those around us - and what all of this means about us. Our childhood years shape us. It is at this time we begin cultivating a sense of ourselves. This sense is created by the feedback we receive from those around us. Based on their responses we begin re-affirming an identity and what we believe to be our values.

As we grow older these responses are the primary structures based on which we navigate our lives. We believe in this false sense of identity. Until our life experiences begin challenging what we've known so far.

Because of this, we have always believed that our worth has lay outside of us. On a profession, on people pleasing, or even on titles. We freely give it away to people or circumstances that we assume would further elevate our worth. We have thrived so much on external validation, that we believe we are only good enough only when we have received it.

But the truth is that our value has always lay within us. Inherent, pure, untouchable and unwavering. It doesn't fluctuate like the stock market does. It is steadfast, unyielding and ever-present. And not up for external valuation. 

My worth lies in me. Not in an expectation of me, my productivity levels, or the extent to which I am supposed to be stretching out to other people, roles or circumstances. It is not in the fluctuating opinions of others nor in my intrusive thoughts.

Your worth has always been present to you, in you. No wonder you lose your sparkle when you freely give it out to other people. One tends to unconsciously give it away, thinking we'll get it back. But the truth is that it has been in us all along. And that if we give it away, it's never gonna come back in the flourishing way that we expect it to. 

Your worth has only ever been about being more of yourself. Whether it has been about asking for more or demanding for more. And always, about never selling yourself short.