Have you considered your worth lately?
Our worth is not based on what we do, which life path we choose, or what we believe. Our worth is inherent in the fact that we are image bearers of the living God. Our worth is based on the fact that we are alive. We are human beings. Our worth is immeasurable.
Do you believe this?
Where do people tend to get their self worth today?
Jon Acuff, NY Best Seller, said recently in Facebook Live Video, “you are enough.” Jon explained, “Sometimes we fall into this trap because we start to comparing what we are doing to what other people are doing. You see the internet is really fascinating, we’ve always struggled with the idea that that the grass is greener is on the other side of the fence. But now because of social media we have access to 10 million backyards, we have a lot of fences we can look over at and go ‘wow their life is perfect, mine isn’t’”.
Consider who holds your measuring stick.
Is it your social circle?
Is it your workplace peers?
Is it your friends at church?
Your neighbors?
Your spouse?
Your children?
Letting others decide our value may feel rewarding in the short term. But what happens when we disappoint them (trust me that day will come)? What happens when someone or thing catches their attention and they no longer hold us up as a hero. Are we somehow of lesser value?
This is the dangerous path we can walk on when we allow ourselves to defined by others instead of by God.
Comparison is the stealer of joy.
The slippery slope is then we find other ways to feel good when we don’t have that status and this sadly is how we find ourselves filling our emptiness with “things” like alcohol, drugs, shopping, binge watching or “martyrdom”. Yes we can even look for fulfillment in ‘feeling needed’ by others, which in some cases becomes codependence.
The real answer is within us. It is something we have carried since we ourselves were in the womb. And that is that God has given us value. To God we are his children; with all our faults he loves us still.
For 2016, I am encouraging my clients to internalize positive affirmations.
Start feeling better today by saying to yourself when you are driving to work, brushing your teeth or heading off to bed at night.
“I have value”
“God cares what I think”
“He loves me every second of every day”
“I am never alone”
God knew you before you were born and you are worth it.
Steven D Brand is a counselor, psychotherapist in Roswell, GA. He also travels the country and the world offering hope and direction with his retreat weekends focusing on Marriage and other tough subjects. He is accepting new clients in his office, call for an appointment 770-641-8726.