Self-worth: the sense of one's own value or worth as a person; self-esteem; self-respect. Everyone looks in the mirror everyday. What do you see when you see yourself?

Recognizing your self-worth is a huge step in your growing process. When you realize how much you are worth and what you deserve, you do not settle for anything less. I fully believe that if you understand your self-worth, then naturally you are happier. 

Do you know that feeling where you just feel low, pushed down, stepped on, and maybe even just worthless sometimes? If you have, and I am sure most people have, then just know that it is normal and part of life. That being said, having these negative feelings definitely do not make anything in life easier. In the midst of hard times, you have to remember who you are and all of the things you love about life as well as about yourself. When you value yourself, you are recognizing your self-worth.

Self-worth is something that is not promoted by
society. Especially in a teenage girl’s mindset, if she does not look like a supermodel or that gorgeous actress on television, then she does not believe that she is beautiful. When you look at yourself in the mirror, the first thing you do is critique yourself. You can find the worst things about yourself just by looking into a mirror and immediately get discouraged. These things are not what you are meant to be seeing. Instead of critiquing yourself on the outside, look deeper. Look at who you are as a soul rather than as a human. You will find that you are valuable no matter how you look on the outside. 

There is a quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, a
French aristocrat and poet, which I love. He says, “I have no right, by anything I do or say, to demean a human being in his own eyes. What matters is not what I think of him; it is what he thinks of himself.” He really hit the nail on the head with this statement. What makes us as humans think that we have the right to demean somebody else? We do not have that right in any way. I am not saying that I am perfect, because I am not. I have hurt people by my words and actions that I am not proud of. However, as humans, we cannot think that we are better than anyone else no matter who they are. When you realize that you are valuable and that you are loved, you also have to realize that everyone else is too. Everybody has their own struggles that they have to work on and overcome. When you understand your own self-worth, use that happiness to bring others up and help them find their self-worth also. 

Recognizing your own self-worth is such a huge
part of your life. When you realize just how much you are worth, then you will not settle for anything less than you deserve. At times, everyone will struggle and fall back. What do you do after that? You pick yourself up and keep going forward because you know that you are capable of working through any situation that comes your way. A motivational speaker by the name Emory Austin once said, “Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.” I find this quote so beautiful and something to always keep in mind. If you have been knocked down by a trial in life and you still “sing” anyway, then you know in your heart that you deserve the best and you deserve to be happy. Understanding this is a part of recognizing your self-worth. Remembering this will make you grow. 

Knowing that you are valuable is a hard concept to grasp when you are feeling down, even if you are the most confident person in the world. When you are struggling with remembering your self-worth and acknowledging it, make a list. Maybe it is a list about things you like about yourself, things that make you happy, your skills, goals you have accomplished, etc. When you make a list about these things, you will learn more about yourself. Hopefully you will recognize and always remember that you are valuable, loved, and wonderfully made.