It can feel very discouraging when you don’t know your own value or self-worth. Life suddenly becomes a burden, and in all reality, you aren’t quite sure how you got there or why. Once you realize your own worth, it will not only allow you to stop looking inward and being self-focused, it will free your mind to accomplish more than you ever thought possible.
What determines self-worth?
First, let’s talk about what self-worth is. Self-worth is the sense of one’s own value or worth as a person; self-esteem; self-respect.
Our self-worth is a very delicate and fickle thing that consists of many layers. Your upbringing, past, lies you believe, and circumstances can all play a role in why you can’t discover your self-worth. But I believe there is one culprit where all things negative stem from. Our minds. Ourselves.
When you let negative thoughts about yourself and others begin to culminate in your mind, you will actually change the physical make-up of your brain. Learn more about that in this book here. Ultimately, you will lessen your chances of discovering your self-worth.
We were not created to think negatively – because when our brains begin to change from our negative thoughts, our health changes for the worse, both physically and mentally.
This brings me to the first wonderful thing that happens when we discover our self-worth.
Benefits of cultivating self-worth
Our Brains and Bodies will Heal
Bear with me for a minute. If you read this book I was referring to earlier, you will discover more in depth what I’m talking about.
But basically, all you need to know is that when you stop believing lies and thinking negative thoughts about yourself, you can heal your brain.
Did you ever wonder why your body hurts when you’re depressed?
Not only will your brain begin to heal when you start seeing your self-worth, your body will heal. So many times our physical ailments go back to one source—our minds.
So, if we nurture our minds and grow personally, discover who we are and what our self-worth is, we can truly start to move forward in life. Our brains will begin to heal, which will, in turn, benefit our overall health.
We Become Selfless
One would think that the opposite would happen when you discover your self-worth – that it would cause you to be self-focused and overly confident.
But I believe the opposite. There have been times in my life when my insecurity and lack of self-confidence was ruling my heart. Because of that, I couldn’t see past my own nose in helping others or even getting out of the house to meet a friend.
How can you be there for others when you are constantly worrying about what others think, or whether we are good enough? You can’t. Having no self-worth will only hinder you from your relationships with other people. Discovering your worth will free your mind of yourself so that you can be confident to love others the way they deserve.
We Become Grateful
When you are focused on yourself and how you aren’t enough, you rob yourself blind of the joy that God intends for your life. He has given us so much to be grateful for, including our bodies and our minds. When we look at those things like they aren’t good enough, we basically say to God that He didn’t do a good job – that He fell short.
What do these verses from Psalm 139 tell us about our self-worth?
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
When you see yourself as being created by a loving God who made you unique and special the way you are, you are ultimately having gratitude.
We Will Start Living Our Lives
So many times, I have been held back by my own detrimental thoughts about myself. It has caused me to miss amazing opportunities that will never come again. I have learned from those experiences that I am in control of certain aspects of what happens in my life. This control comes with my free will, and ability to make decisions. Obviously, there is much we can’t control, but I’m talking about learning to control your thoughts, first and foremost. Yes, we can control our thoughts!
Once you discover your self-worth, you will no longer be held back by the tossing and turning of your circumstances. You will be grounded in who you are; knowing the purpose and plan God has for your life, and begin to live from that mindset, instead of fear.
Who we are, and our identity in who God made us to be, will drive our thoughts, decisions, and ability to live our lives.
This doesn’t mean our suffering or trials will cease; but rather, when our trials come we will be better equipped to know where our source of strength comes from – a God who loves us and made us just the way we were supposed to be.
