The Power of Self-Worth

If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be. — Dr. Maya Angelou

Self-worth is empowering. Self-worth is coming home to our inner wisdom.

What is self-worth?

From Adam Siciniski, How to Build Self-Worth and Start Believing in Yourself Again:

Self-worth is an internal state of being that comes from self-understanding, self-love, and self-acceptance.

It’s a state that is somewhat timeless and unchanging because it’s a direct measure of how you value and regard yourself in spite of what others may say or do. It’s, therefore, something that doesn’t quickly or easily change when external factors or circumstances change.

Many of us have learned from our cultures, our families, our employers, the people we surround ourselves with that we don’t deserve abundance, happiness, love, joy, peace, goodness, beauty, and fulfillment until we earn it somehow. We must earn points somehow or pass some tests.

But, this simply isn’t true. It’s just a thought, a belief we carry around with us.

We can change our thoughts and beliefs.

Our worth is established

We don’t earn worth through doing, achieving, acquiring, being a martyr, working hard, sacrificing, etc. We already are worthy just as we are. The door to high self-worth is open to us right now. We just have to step through.

Your crown has been bought and paid for. Put it on your head and wear it. -Dr. Maya Angelou

How do we develop our self-worth?

We practice self-understanding

This who I am and how I see myself. What are my values? What matters to me? What brings me joy, fulfillment? What are my strengths and weaknesses? What life moments define me? What is my purpose? Who do I want to be? How do I want to live? What are my why’s?

Sometimes the hardest part of the journey is believing you’re worthy of the trip. -Glenn Beck

We practice self-acceptance

This is my refusal to be in an adversarial relationship with myself. This is fully accepting our whole selves, including our flaws, fears, behaviors, and qualities that we may not be too proud of. If we fight ourselves or something about ourselves, it grows stronger. What you focus on expands. When we acknowledge, experience, and accept it, it begins to dissolve. We let it go. We accept our self as we are, even though we are open to self-improvement and growth.

Never allow yourself to be defined by someone else’s opinion. -Anonymous

We practice resourcefulness

We know and believe we hold the power to respond to events and circumstances of our life based on our internal sources and resourcefulness. We know we can figure things out, respond rather than react, take action in accordance with our values, our purpose, our goals.

Embrace the empowering belief that you can always find a way. Resourceful people know that even though a solution may not be immediately obvious, it probably exists. -Anthony Iannarino

We practice self-responsibility

I am responsible for the achievement of my desires. I am responsible for my choices and my actions. I am responsible for my behavior with others. I am responsible for how I prioritize my time. I am responsible for the quality of my communications. I am responsible for my personal happiness. I am responsible for accepting and choosing the values by which I live. I am responsible for my self-esteem. No one is coming to my rescue.

We practice self-assertiveness

This is the willingness to stand up for myself, to set boundaries, to treat myself with respect in all encounters. I am not here to live up to someone else’s expectations. I am living my life, not the life someone else has written for me.

Once you learn how to be happy, you won’t tolerate being around people who make you feel anything less. -Anonymous

We practice living purposefully

If we want anything to work — our life, work, relationships, self-growth — you must make it our conscious purpose that it works. No hoping or wishing. We create an action plan for our goal or value and make it work. We identify actions necessary to achieve our goals. We monitor behavior to check that it is in alignment with our goals. We pay attention to the outcomes of our actions, to ensure we are manifesting what we want.

It doesn’t matter what you did or where you were…it matters where you are and what you’re doing. Get out there! Sing the song in your heart and NEVER let anyone shut you up!! -Steve Maraboli

We practice personal integrity

This is the integration of values, beliefs, and behavior. When we behave in ways that conflict with our judgment of what is appropriate, we lose face in our own eyes. Most of the issues of integrity we face are not big issues but small ones, yet the accumulated weight of our choices has an impact on our sense of self.

You only ever have three things: 1) yourself, wellbeing and mindset 2) Your life network, resources and resourcefulness 3) Your reputation and goodwill. Treasure and tend the first. Value, support and build the second. And mindfully, wisely ensure that the third (your life current and savings account) is always in credit. -Rasheed Ogunlaru

Sources:

IQMatrix, How to Build Self-Worth and Start Believing in Yourself Again