Part 1 – The Inherent Worth of the Human Soul
Why is self-worth important?
There is little doubt the inherent worth of the soul is a critical necessity to both surviving and thriving. Yet at the same time we may underestimate the importance of our worthiness. We might be surprised to find that our soul will not even feed itself if it does not feel worthy. Self-care practices tend to be deliberately ignored in those moments when we consider the notion that we are somehow, in some way undeserving. The absence of our sense of worth may also damage our inherent capacity to own our human rights.
Survivors of abuse who have discovered their fundamental worthiness on the healing path speak of discovering their human rights for the first time. They are amazed as their sense of self-preservation kicks in, and they begin to experience a brand new quality of life. Having discovered this inherent worthiness, this self-aware state of consciousness becomes their new normal. They surprise themselves, thriving in this new-found worthiness in ways they never imagined.
Why is self-worth so elusive?
There does seem, however, to be a global experience surrounding the fragility of self-worth. Why is it, so many of us wonder, that worth seems to be a fair-weather friend, breezing in and out of our lives, always welcome but so unreliable? The reason is because we are confusing self-worth with conditional acceptance. The problem with replacing inherent worth with conditional acceptance is that these conditions are much like the weather, often changing without notice. This results in an acceptance that is woefully unreliable and that is, at the same time, a far cry from inherent worthiness.
In stark contrast, the nature of our inherent worthiness is divine, which is to say it is bigger than ourselves as we are not the authors of this worthiness. Conditional acceptance, however, surrounds the occupation of earning our worthiness. This temporary acceptance tag could be revoked at any time by forces that would seek to diminish us. When we begin to perceive our worth as delicate, like an injured bird on a piece of driftwood headed for whitewater, our worth’s survival seems precarious.
However, because it is all we know, we learn to follow the laws of conditional acceptance codes. Codes, such as perfectionism, come with an internal coach who is constantly whispering “be perfect” in our ear. Over time we learn to obey our Perfection Coach. If we don’t obey, we risk losing our daily acceptance coin. It seems we have bought into the notion that we need something like perfection to earn the right to be here. Due to our focus on achieving and maintaining these daily conditions, we tend to be unaware of our inherent worth. We have not yet learned that our organic worthiness cannot be present when we do not embrace the truth of our existence.
What role does existence play with regards to our worthiness?
Where perfection stems from the mortal notion of control, creativity springs from the divine inspiration of being. This suggests that our existence all by itself, without doing anything at all, holds an immeasurable worthiness that cannot be added to, nor subtracted from. When we create, we clarify our existence. We discover more of our true shape. Now the archeologist rather than the constructionist, we begin to uncover those inner riches awaiting our discovery.
Our inherent worth as a “self” is found in the simple truth that we are potent in our existence. Worthiness is our birthright by the truth that we are here. We have arrived budding with promise and potential. That birthright also includes the right to occupy space in the external universe. Gradually we will find that holding our space with intention is an essential part of owning our worth and one way that we might begin to believe in ourselves.
This means that our worthiness must be discovered. This ritual of discovery surrounds the work of learning how to believe in ourselves, while at the same time believing we are far more than we ever imagined we could be. Each time you believe in yourself, your inner being leaves with you, a jewel of you. As you accumulate these precious stones of authenticity, it is important to acknowledge another facet on the gemstone of your being has just been illuminated. The very belief that we journey daily towards the inherent fullness of our being brings with it the enormous comfort of the truth that there is no scarcity, there is only abundance.
Where am I on my self-worth journey?
Using the following rating scale, mark the spot indicating if you might be leaning one way or the other on this worth versus inferiority continuum.
Self-Worth – To sense the substantial value of your soul. To honor the riches of your being. To own with gratitude the divine wealth of one’s meaning, and the divine intention of you.
Self-Inferiority – To hold oneself to the notion that one’s soul lacks importance and significance. To hold oneself to a low position, as one who deserves substandard position and treatment. To believe that one’s soul lacks inherent value.
| Self-Worth | |—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—|—| | Self-Inferiority |
| 50 40 30 20 10 0 10 20 30 40 50 |
Tune in next month to discover the one thing that the human soul prefers more than worthiness.
Larry Marshall is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Greenway Therapy . Learn more about him on his BIO page.
