Rediscover your Inherent Worth

The concept of self worth can be a fickle thing - easily understood by some and impossible to recognize by others. 

Inherent worth is simply the value you have by virtue of being you! It is deeply rooted in - 

Your Intrinsic truth 
Your core values 
Your soul 
Your character 

No matter what, your self worth is stable, static, and always there. It is the recognition that you are always deserving of unconditional love, care, and belonging. Embodying your worth will help you brave inevitable storms, help you immerse yourself in interconnection and shared humanity, as well as help you appreciate and savor the good times.  

Why am I having trouble recognizing or embracing my inherent worth?

Do you ever find yourself asking - 

“ Am I worth it?” 
“How can we be inherently worth something?”
“Am I as valuable as others?”

In our society it can be easy to lose sight of or perhaps never have the awareness of one’s inherent worth. This is due to the fact that people tend to determine someone’s value and worth based on external achievements - income, vacations, relationship status, number of friends, religious or political orientation, and so on. Your inherent worth is not dependent on - 

Your appearance 
Your inner critic 
Your social or relationship status 
Your career choice 
Your possessions

Determining your worth based on external achievements is social comparison at work.  It keeps alive this notion that there is a “correct” way to be human; skewing your perception of what messy, beautiful, mundane, real life looks like. Constantly looking to others for information or validation comes with pitfalls - envy, guilt, unhappiness, lack of fulfillment, and the list goes on. 

How can I reclaim my Inherent worth?

A good place to start is realizing your inherent worth hasn’t gone anywhere - simply existing grants you inherent value. It is immutable, although your perception of your worth may not be. If you see yourself as having low worth, you may have a difficult time understanding or believing that you can be unconditionally appreciated. 

If you resonate with this, that’s okay! It just means it’s time to invest in yourself and gain awareness of your value. 

This involves committing to treating yourself with love, respect, and compassion through self care. Self care will look different for everyone. The only criteria is that you are taking action to preserve, protect, or improve your well-being. 

What are some ways I can practice self -care to improve my self worth?

“Self Care” is subjective and individualized - take some time to navigate through what it means to you. Take what feels aligned to you and leave what doesn’t - 

• Keep a journal. Even if you aren’t big on journaling, this exercise could be a great place to start! This journal will serve as a reminder of your inherent worth. Feel free to add quotes, letters to yourself, positive affirmations, or anything else that will help you nourish your sense of self and worth. 

• Find supportive people. It’s easy to overlook the impact individuals can have on us. A short or long term goal for you could be to surround yourself with a positive support system - people that want & will support your personal growth! Having good people in your life will also help to maintain awareness of your inherent worth. 

• Be mindful of comparison. We are all a bit guilty of some amount of comparison. Whether it’s through social media, your family members, friends, or peers it’s important to remind yourself that no one’s life is perfect - imperfection is normal. Practice recognizing when you are crossing the line towards negativity and overconsumption. What we see online is never an accurate depiction of reality. 

• Embody self compassion. With self-compassion you are understanding, comforting, and kind to yourself with personal failings or difficult times. It is important for you to remember that self-compassion is not self serving. Your emotional and physical well being is just as important as someone else's! Embracing self-compassion will inevitably help evolve other aspects of your life - your authenticity, your purpose, your values, your relationships, and so on. 
  

Like most things, embracing your value will take time - give yourself grace as you begin to invest in YOU. Remember, your inherent worth is stable, static, and always there.

growgood psychology has a team of therapists ready to walk with you as you reclaim your inherent worth. Whether you need guidance understanding what inherent worth means to you or are looking for support as you begin your self-care journey, our therapists are here to support you. Connectwith us today to begin a new path towards healing!