The Worth Factor
Knowing you are a person of value, and you have innate worth, gives you self-efficacy. You do not need external validation. You bring internal knowledge and confidence. You know you are a person who can intentionally achieve desired results. Our internal conversations are often filtered through our experiences, upbringing, prejudices, our sense of expectation on ourselves and our sense of expectations we feel from others. This causes people to put on masks to hide who they are or present as better than they think they are.
Have you ever noticed it is easier to see the strengths and virtues in others than it is to acknowledge our own? Does your self image allow you to be amazing, brilliant, talented? The way others value you has a strong correlation with the amount you value yourself. This underscores the importance of cultivating a robust sense of self-worth, lending weight to our words and opinions.
There is, however, a delicate balance. When people only see the best in themselves, they can come across as grandiose and disconnected from reality. In such instances, seeking feedback from trusted individuals serves as a humbling reality check, ensuring our self-assessment remains grounded.
Here is an exercise to reflect on your self-perception. Set a timer for 30 seconds. Now write at least five – more if you can – fantastic, amazing and wonderful things about you. Go!
How did you go?
People often laugh when asked to that exercise. Some outright refuse. Others look at their pens as if willing it to write words. Whether you got none or more than five, what did you observe about the internal conversation in your head while you did that?
Did you have a bit of a blank? That is not unusual. Many people have mind blanks because they do not work well under unexpected pressure. Take the time you need and write out 20 great things about yourself. It's a great way to assess how well you can see the good in yourself.
Humans are inherently wired to construct their identities based on personal narratives and societal norms. However, It's not what happens to you that matters as much as what you tell yourself about what happens to you. To cultivate a positive self-image, it's important to stop from speaking negatively about ourselves or to ourselves.
By aligning our actions, words, and thoughts with the ideal version of ourselves, we gradually shape our identity and become the person we want to be. This requires introspection and a willingness to understand the emotions that influence our behaviour so that we act, talk and think in ways that align with the ideal version of ourself.
