Self-worth is understanding that you are worthy of love, acceptance, and appreciation. It is knowing you are an integral part of the universe and that you are more than what you have, do, or look like. It is knowing that you are irreplaceable and that your energy is vital. Being able to realize your own self-worth is not easy. We are our own biggest cheerleaders, but more often we’re also our deepest critics. Sometimes it is challenging to ignore our inner critic and truly believe that we are worthy.
Most of us tell ourselves a story that diminishes our worth — things like I can’t do that, I can’t have that, no one will ever love me, I’m ugly. By shifting and reprogramming these words, thoughts, and actions we have about ourselves, we can begin to trust that we are valuable.
Tips for Realizing Self-Worth
You are Not Your Past Mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes. It is what makes us human. Mistakes and missteps are a common part of life and growth. When we mess up, we tend to judge ourselves and think we are not worthy, but bad choices do not devalue us as people. Even though you had a mishap you are still worthy of forgiveness. Approaching mistakes as a learning experiences, and maintaining a positive outlook, will help you increase your self-worth.
Question your Inner Critic
We all have that voice in our heads telling us we are not good enough or we can’t do something. If we listen this voice, we’ll find so many ways to devalue ourselves, but the inner critic can be fast to judge and needlessly harsh. We prioritize our inner critic’s opinions when it isn’t even real! Taking time to pause and notice when this voice appears, or why it appears, then asking if what is being said is factual, can help us notice when we are making up stories in our head. Question its accuracy and validity. Don’t listen to the voice of your insecurities.
Accomplishments and Goals are not Everything
It is easy to validate our worthiness through how much or what we accomplish. We live by a collection of both conscious and unconscious goals. When we are able to accomplish a big goal, it feels great. Often times, we equate that great feeling with being worthy. You do not have to do anything to be worthy. It is a part of your core being and no list of goals can give that to you. Your worth is innate. You cannot add to it or take away from it.
Social Media doesn’t Define You
Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter…. They are all a part of our everyday lives. Social Media connects us to others, and we are able to learn different perspectives that we may not have been able to experience otherwise. As amazing as social media is, there is a false set of standards that chip away at our self-esteem. Recognize when you are attributing worthiness to the number of likes or comments obtained. While its healthy to connect with others, it can become unhealthy to rely on arbitrary metrics to determine your true worthiness. Worth comes from within, not from likes on a picture.
Finance is not Equal to Worth
We are taught through society that our “net worth” is our actual worth. You do not need to have a million dollars to be worthy. Notice when you find yourself equating your worth to money. Abundance comes in different forms. It isn’t always monetary or even material. Believe you are worthy of abundance and it will find you, but understand that having more money does not mean you have more worth as an individual.
Get to Know Yourself
Self-worth comes from meeting and knowing ourselves. By understanding what brings us happiness, what we are naturally good at, and how we make others feel, we can help know our worth. Try grabbing a journal and writing down who you are and what you like about yourself. Think characteristics or traits rather than accomplishments. What do you offer to the people around you? What makes you unique? By taking time to reflect on questions such as these you can begin to ease into your true essence. As you begin to learn more about yourself, your self-worth will increase and you will realize how irreplaceable you are in this world.
No One Decides your Worth but You
As a society, we tend to look for others to give us validation or confirm to us that we are valuable. True self worth, however, comes from within by knowing yourself, believing in yourself, and recognizing your unique magic. No other person can tell you these things, except yourself. If you find that you are seeking validation from others, shift your perspective inward. Yes, other people’s opinions can be important, but yours is the most important.