Our self-worth is another term for our self-esteem. We measure our self-worth by our abilities and our performance in meaningful activities. Sometimes we struggle with low self-esteem because we base our abilities and performance on how other people do things. We watch those who are succeeding in areas we find valuable and we compare ourselves to them. Our thoughts turn disparaging, “What is the point in trying? I will never be as good as [name-amazingly-talented-person-here]!” And when we do attempt to engage in those meaningful activities, we might start to beat ourselves up. “This painting is turning into a joke. I am definitely going to trash this before I waste anymore acrylic paint.”
By allowing those thoughts to take center stage in your mind, you are going to be far less motivated to do all of those things you find meaningful. Sometimes these thoughts can turn into doubt and fear. They can stop us from living a fruitful life—one where we have no shame in engaging in the things we are passionate about! Instead, we may develop the habit of avoiding things, including engaging in recreational activities or social situations. Overtime, we may develop depression and anxiety.
If you have struggled with low self-esteem, if you relate to thoughts like the ones above, or if you feel like those meaningful activities that you once engaged in are becoming few and far between—then I invite you to take some time today to journal. Ask yourself the following questions and see what comes up for you:
1) What would you do if you knew you would not fail?
2) When do you feel the strongest?
3) What makes you unique?
4) If you could become an expert in any subject or activity, what would it be?
5) How do you sabotage your self-confidence?
6) What is it about failure that scares you?
If you feel like these questions evoked some strong responses from within and you would like to explore the area of self-worth more in depth, feel free to schedule a consultation with one of our mental health providers today! We can help you identify ways to increase your self-esteem and explore the barriers that are preventing you from experiencing a positive self-image. No matter what, YOU ARE WORTHY!
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