How To Appreciate and Protect Your Self-Worth In A World That Can Make You Feel “Less Than” and Unworthy

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Excerpt: In a world that can make you feel “less than” and unworthy, knowing how to appreciate and protect your self-worth couldn’t be more important.

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Just because somebody is ahead of you in a specific domain in life, doesn’t mean that they are more than you. And just because somebody is behind you in a specific domain, doesn’t mean that they are less than you. Worth isn’t measured in the same way as money.

With money, it’s easy to keep track of who has more and who has less—it’s a numbers game. We are surrounded by numbers games. Who has more followers and who has less. Who weighs more and who weighs less. Who has traveled more and who has traveled less. Who can lift more and who can lift less. Who has more things and who has less.

But, if you look closely, numbers games don’t affect worth.

If you think about a $100 bill you might understand better. If I held out a $100 bill to you right now, would you want it? There’s no catch here. You’d be crazy if you said, “No.” Well, what if I crumpled it up into a ball? Would you still want it? Again, you’d be crazy if you didn’t.

What if I dropped it on the ground and stomped it a few times with my shoe? If I’m reading you correctly, the answer is, “Yes,” you still want it. Why? Because no matter if the bill is crumpled, thrown, stopped on, dirtied, or even a little ripped—the worth of the bill stays the same. It doesn’t matter if the bill is printed fresh or if it has been in circulation for years—it’s still worth $100.

The same is true for you.

It doesn’t matter if you’re untouched or stomped on, fresh or crumpled, crispy or worn—your worth is the same as everybody else’s. It doesn’t matter if you have 1 million followers or 1 follower; if you weight 300 pounds or 100 pounds; if you’ve traveled to every territory in the world or if you’ve never left your home town; if you can lift the entire gym or if you’ve never lifted a weight in your life; if you have all the things or none of the things—your worth is the same.

It’s easy to feel like you’re “more” or “less” worthy because of these numbers games, or based on what skills or talents you have to offer versus others, but worth is something different.

What gives you your worth is the fact that you are a human being—this is the sole criteria. As a human being you have the same rights as any other human being. The United Nations has a document called the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that outlines 30 inalienable rights that we all have as humans. THIS gives you an idea of where our equality in worth comes from and is something you should hold in high regard and always protect.

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The 30 Inalienable Human Rights

1. We are all born free and equal.
2. None of us should be discriminated against because of differences.
3. We all have the right to life and to live in freedom and safety.
4. Nobody has a right to make us a slave and we cannot make anyone our slave.
5. We all have the right to no torture.
6. We all have the right to maintain our rights no matter where we go.
7. We are all equal before the law and it must treat us fairly.
8. We all can ask for the law to help us when we are not treated fairly.
9. None of us can be detained, imprisoned, or sent away from our country unfairly or without good reason.
10. We all have the right to a public trial with fair, unbiased, impartial, people.
11. We’re all innocent until proven guilty.
12. We all have the right to privacy.
13. We all have the freedom to move and travel where we wish.
14. We all have the right to seek a safe place to live.
15. We all have the right to a Nationality.
16. Once grown-up, we all have the right to marry and have a family if we want to. Men and women all have the same rights when married and when separated.
17. We all have the right to our own things. Nobody has the right to take our things without good reason.
18. We all have freedom of thought and the right to believe what we want to believe, to have a religion, or to change it if we want.
19. We all have the freedom of expression. To make up our minds, to think what we like, to say what we think, and to share our ideas.
20. We all have the right to Public Assembly. To meet our friends and work together in peace to defend our rights.
21. We all have the right to Democracy. To take part in the government of our country. Every grown-up should be allowed to choose their own leaders.
22. We all have the right to Social Security. For affordable housing, medicine, education, childcare, and enough money to live on if we are ill or old.
23. We all have worker’s rights. Every grown up has the right to do a job, to a fair wage, and to join a trade union.
24. We all have the right to play. To rest from work and relax.
25. We all have the right to food and shelter. Mothers and children, people who are old, unemployed or disabled… all have the right to be cared for.
26. We all have the right to education.
27. We all have the right to Copyright. To protect our artistic creations and writings.
28. We all have the right to a fair and free world.
29. We all have the duty to other people and to protect their rights and freedoms.
30. We all have the responsibility to ensure that nobody takes away our Human Rights.

You can see the complete document with the unedited text here.

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In a perfect world, these rights would be practiced and protected equally everywhere. Unfortunately, our world is far from perfect and there is much to do. But, never forget that who you are—that you are—is enough. YOU are enough.

If somebody crumples up one of your rights and throws it to the ground, your worth doesn’t change. If somebody tries to stomp you down and break your spirit, your worth doesn’t change. Even if somebody is ahead of you in ALL of the numbers games, they are no “better” than you.

Your worth can’t be touched. Only you can choose to let somebody’s actions affect how you feel about yourself. Only you can choose how to act and live in the world as a result of your circumstances. Only you can act in accordance with your worth. THIS is where your real power lies.

This is not to say that protecting your worth will be easy. But, it is to remind you that it will be worth it. Your worth will ALWAYS be worth the effort.

Every single one of us is different, yet we are all the same. We are all in different places on the “numbers games scoreboard,” but that doesn’t affect our equality. Our strength lies in our belief in ourselves—not in somebody else’s belief in us.

Never forget that your value doesn’t decrease based on somebody’s inability to see your worth. And while we live in a world where it is encouraged to try and get “ahead,” never forget that “getting ahead” will never make you any “more” or “less” than anybody else.

Your value is always protected so long as you protect it. So, let’s do that. Let’s do that for others, too. Let’s stand up for a more just and equal world. It’s one of the most worthy fights that you will ever choose to be a part of. Good luck.

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