Sunday 14 September 2014

On Self Worth...




Self Worth is simply the feeling of how we hold ourselves in our own eyes. It's another word for self-esteem. Do we think we are worthy enough to do a certain thing, buy a certain thing or be a certain someone?

Each of us has a Self Worth Equation. If I do this, I will feel better about myself, If  I win this employee of the month award, I will be a good Manager. If my kids are achievers, I am a great Mom.

My equation used to be something like this:




Now as you can see, the Problem with the above is, that it was impossible to have everything going for me all at once!

So even if one parameter wasn't working, my self worth plummeted. My self esteem or self worth was something that I always struggled with.

Don't get me wrong. I knew I was good. But I wanted to be more! And when I couldn't reach the impossible standards I held of myself, I was self critical. And then, like a parent denying a naughty child goodies, I told myself, that I didn't deserve that promotion, or I didn't deserve to look good, or that I didn't deserve some quiet time to myself.

I realized that I was not alone in feeling this way. Most women go through this every single day.

Surprisingly Men don't. Behavioural Sciences suggest that Men externalise Failure, and Women Internalise Failure.

What that simply means is that when faced with failure, men look to factors outside themselves to blame/attribute /correct. While women, you guessed it right, they look inwards. The blame is squarely on their shoulders.

In my own journey to being a Life Coach, I realized that Self Worth is the key to everything. And the more I worked on myself, I realized that I had to de-link my Self -Worth from every single parameter.

This is what my new equation became:



It wasn't easy, but I started working with Affirmations to internalize this new equation.

I am Worthy of all the love, riches and power in the world!
I am special JUST the way I am.
I deserve the BEST in life just by being Me!
I LOVE Myself JUST the way I am.



And Magically, All the things I used to run after, started coming to me. Once I accepted myself, and stopped proving myself to everyone, I felt liberated. My confidence soared, and I became a different person.

Even today, one of the first areas, I work with my clients is always Self-Worth. Read 5 simple tips to boost your self-esteem to know more.

I can't say that I am completely over my old equation. I have my days, especially many in the last nine months, when I wasn't working.

But I know how to get back. I know better to let myself be pulled down by my own impossible high standards.

So Dear Momtrepreneurs ,Mommies, and to every woman out there who is reading this,

YOU are WORTHY of everything just by being YOU.
Don't let anyone including you tell yourself otherwise.

YOU,  Stay-at-home Mom, don't need to earn money to prove your worth, or don't need to raise Einsteins to show how good you are. You can buy a designer bag, even if you don't go out and get the moolah yourself! YOU deserve it all just by being YOU!

And You, Momtrepreneur,Working Mom, and every woman out there...You don't have to be have it ALL to feel good about yourself. You are perfect just the way you are...You are a great Mom, and you don't have to work doubly hard at work to prove to yourself what a great achiever you are! YOU deserve it all just by being YOU!

And, If you are a husband, brother, father, male friend, male boss reading this blog, go to your sister, subordinate. wife, daughter, daughter-in-law and tell her that She is worthy of all the good things in life, just because she simply exists!




Lots of Love,

Momtrepreneur




2 comments:

  1. It needs a lot of self training to feel good about one self. And feel that yes I am worth it. I doubt myself every freaking 10 min of my life. End up comparing with others and feel all the more horrible. Guess have to practice this affirmation that I am good just the way I am. Awesome article Aditi!! God bless you.

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  2. Hi Shilpi! So lovely to read your comments. Thank you for taking the time to write in. You are right. It takes a lot of self training. The important thing to remember is to keep at it. The affirmation you picked is a lovely place to start.. Just say it to yourself a million times a day until it becomes second nature:-) God bless you too... And thanks again for your encouragement. It means a lot to me!

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