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Developing a Sense of Self Worth

Posted By : Administrator Tuesday 27 Dec, 2016
Developing a Sense of Self Worth


Over time, the boundaries between the definitions of self-esteem and self-worth have blurred. Dictionaries tend to lump the both the terms together. They sound the similar, but are inherently different. 

While self-esteem, much like confidence, stems from the positive reinforcement offered by people around you, self-worth is not offered, it is built brick by brick, by you. It's not a result of your experiences or achievements. It doesn't find its source in whatever truth, lies or platitudes may be said to you. Your self-worth is yours. It's not about others, it's about you. 

Finding your sense of self-worth goes a long way towards getting you the life you want. But in a society like ours, it becomes just a bit more difficult to figure out how much you're worth.

‘I don't have an Audi or a 10 lakh job,’ you tell yourself, ‘Surely I don't amount to much?’ If so, you're going about this the wrong way. Take a good look at all the people around you who have all the material things you desire. Are they all confident, happy and self-assured?

A lot of us may act confident on the outside and it helps, but often there's no real sense of self-worth. All we have are these things—cars, money, relationships—that we hold on to. Take them away and we collapse. 

Finding your sense of self-worth is not a Herculean task. There are no mental gymnastics required. Just some soul-searching

Know Yourself 

How did I get here? What purpose do I have here? What do I seek? What values do I hold? What truly matters to me? Simple introspective questions. Questions rarely asked. To know your self-worth, you must know yourself. Not the you the world knows, but the real you. Never forget that there comes a time when you have to stop relying on others for your opinion on yourself.

Validate Yourself

Humans, on some scale, feel a constant need for validation. It's unavoidable. We need someone to give us a pat on the head, tell us we did well and reaffirm the purpose of our existence. Validation from others cannot be done without. We are social animals, after all. But why let another do for you what you can do for yourself?  When you truly know yourself, you become able to validate yourself. You begin to ask questions such as ‘Were my actions in line with my values?’, ‘Did I achieve the goals I set for myself?’. This automatically makes us more accountable and gives us a better idea of where we are headed in life. 


These are two simple steps to get you on your way towards being the person you know you should be. You may find it difficult at times, but it's nothing to worry about. We're wired to doubt ourselves constantly. It's nature's way of forcing us to improve. However, if you think you can't do it alone, or need some guidance, feel free to contact us. At Catex Health, we're always available for you. 


Catex Health is a large network of mental health experts who are available 24x7 for your support and will ensure confidential, dignified and empowering support for any sort of emotional distress. Click here to reach out to an expert or call +91 9911775626.