I have struggled with feelings of rejection, insecurity, and feeling like I am unloved and unwanted throughout my life. Feelings like these can drive issues of low self-worth. They can stem from childhood but still plague you today! Have you ever struggled like this?
You ‘all I have chased after some people to win their acceptance and approval – trying to win and earn their love. It has been a one-way chase. And it has greatly destroyed my self-worth to pursue people who have not respected or valued me as a person.
And I’m not the only one who has struggled with low self-worth! And if this is you, you are not alone!
Trent Shelton a former pro football player has made it his life’s mission to help people know their worth. Through his personal battle with self-worth he has learned and grown towards healthy self-worth. He has some great videos – you can check him out on the link below!
Emma Watson, a beautiful young actress has struggled with insecurity in trying to live up to the picture on the magazine versus her real life day to day.
Selena Gomez, a pop star canceled her world tour and went to therapy struggling with depression and anxiety – feeling like she wasn’t capable or good enough.
Eric, a man who grew up in one of the roughest neighborhoods, was plagued with drugs and criminal behavior, 19 prison trips, 30 rehab tries – all because he suffered from low self-worth! You can find his testimony in YouTube at Soft White Underbelly.
Chris Powell, the host and star of biggest loser who is in the business of helping other people transform their lives has no shame in admitting that he sees a therapist and is working through childhood issues that hold him back still today- he posted on his Facebook page. On his bathroom mirror he has a note that says, “I am safe” and “I am loved.”
Low self-worth does not discriminate; it can afflict even the seemingly most confident people and ones who appear to have it all together!
There are actually many ways we can try to build self-worth through things outside ourselves, which don’t hold up. Things like the “perfect” image, great accomplishments and achievements, unique abilities and talents, job/work, possessions, impressive titles, or important roles, through other people among other things. While none of these are inherently bad, if we let them dictate our worth it can destroy us.
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.
Acts 17:23-24 NIV
I was letting other people be an idol in my life- I was worshipping them by allowing them to have a say over my value and worth as a person. I was letting my abilities try to earn my worth in the hearts of others! My worth as a person is A PLACE RESERVED FOR GOD; our true and actual Creator. He is the only authority who counts here!
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’
Acts 17:28a NIV
When you look in the mirror- your face, your life existence says it best. You are a created being, created by a God who loves you and chose to create you! You have value simply because you exist! If you are breathing you have value! That’s great news for us performance based people who have been busy trying to earn worth!
Stop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings, and emotions.
Will Smith
Personal Growth Challenge
- Make a list describing yourself; titles, roles, positions, work/job, talents, abilities, achievements, accomplishments, possessions, gifting, physical characteristics, relationships and so forth.
- Now mark a line through them one by one, take each of them away.
- As you mark them out how do you feel? Do you believe your life would still have value if you didn’t have each one? If you couldn’t work or lost an ability would you still have worth?
- Now fill each space with the truth of God. Say… I am here. I am loved. I am breathing. I matter. I am created. I am chosen. I am alive. I exist. I am human. I have worth. I have value that doesn’t change based on my circumstances.
You live, move and have your being from God, that’s where your worth comes from!
Self-respect, self-worth & self-love, all start with self. Stop looking outside yourself for your value.
Rob Liano
While working hard and accomplishments, enjoying possessions or relationships are not bad things – just make sure these transient things don’t dictate your value as a person; your worth.
But the fact that you are a created being, human – created by a God who loves you – that never changes.
