Value Yourself

What happens when you value yourself?

1) You remain confident.

People have a hard time keeping their confidence high because of the competition that exists among individuals. It is easy to get caught up in the cycle of comparing yourself with others. There will always be smarter, more creative, and more popular people. People who do things better should inspire you. Don't resent them. Learn from them. Also, don't let other people compare you to your sources of inspiration as a way to lower your self-esteem. Negative opinions should not cause you to feel like you are not good enough. Just because someone else is further along in his or her success journey doesn't mean that you aren't doing well in life. Stay in your own lane, remain inspired, and embrace what makes you special. When you value yourself, you don't allow competition and other people's remarks to pause your progress.

2) You find internal ways to fuel your own quest for success.

Sometimes people pursue their goals because they know that they are expected to be successful, or they feel more energized when they know that people are watching their journey. However, when you have an authentic purpose, you will find an internal drive to move forward in life. What do you do when nobody knows about your goals? Do you drop them or do you follow through on your personal promises to achieve? When you value yourself, it doesn't matter who is aware of your ambitions. Even if no one acknowledges your accomplishments, you will still feel good about doing well in life. Feel the passion that lives within your heart. You will reach higher because you are solidly committed to excelling on all levels.

3) You make a difference in spite of your imperfections.

You don't have to be perfect in order to change the world. People have imperfections that may lower their self-esteem, which in turn keeps them from reaching out to others. However, making a difference has less to do with whether or not a person has flaws, and more to do with whether a person's heart is full of love and compassion. When you value yourself, you are more willing to be a teacher, mentor, and empathetic leader. Embrace your imperfections and continue to make positive contributions to other people's lives.

4) You engage in lifelong learning.

We are conditioned to learn in a classroom from an early age. We are taught that learning is a key part of life and we look to our teachers and parents to guide our intellectual odyssey. We also must remember that learning takes place outside of the classroom. As we go along, we encounter many lessons when we interact with people in our environment and participate in a variety of activities. When you value yourself, you will engage in lifelong learning. Use your curiosity to expand your world. You may not be graded on your knowledge, but that doesn't mean that you can't soak in new information. Respect your mind.

5) You will enjoy the different aspects of your journey.

Enjoy your life. There will be ups. There will be downs. You are blessed because you were born. Your life is filled with opportunities. When you value yourself, you will make every moment count. Love yourself. Believe in yourself. Focus on what matters and don't give up. Give yourself the gift of a beautiful life by leading with hope, kindness, and thoughtfulness. You are worthy.