Understand the value of one
There are few things more painful than feeling worthless or “not good enough”, minute by minute, day by day and year after year. I know this because I have felt that way myself, most of the time during the first half of my 60 years. In addition, I have provided counseling and treatment to hundreds of people who have felt similar feelings over the past 30 years as a physician. For these individuals, their beliefs went far beyond emotion. In fact, many of them felt that they knew “beyond a doubt” that they were as worthless as they felt. How painful it is to live in that place, and yet how wonderful it is that there is hope for each of us, that we can enhance our sense of identity, even with the absolute knowledge that we are wonderful beyond all words can. express. . It is this gradual but growing understanding that can increase motivation to change. You and I are worth the effort it takes to transcend illness and create a recovered life.
Why do medical and mental health professionals dedicate our lives to helping those with illnesses? There are many reasons, but the key is to understand that each individual we serve is worth all that we can do and much more. As Mother Teresa said, “I serve not because an individual is in need, but because he is holy.”
I believe that our clients, those who suffer, seek help for many reasons, including these two main ones: 1) They are feeling an intense and utter despair that has brought them to their knees, and 2) Because deep down, beyond all doubt and contempt for themselves, and far beyond their negative and false perceptions of themselves – they too have a small glimmer of their worth – that perhaps they also deserve the efforts of themselves and others to make the change, transcends the sickness and receive the blessing of healing. That little splinter, that glimpse, is a little seed that can grow.
GA individuals begin to take steps toward recovery, they find reasons to recover, and any reason must be honored and remembered to strengthen determination toward recovery. Despair, fear, love for others, passion, life purpose, deep desires, and dreams are among the common reasons to recover and live. Over time, on the road to recovery, people learn that, in addition to all the other worthwhile reasons, the truth that “I’m worth it too” is a powerful force that helps people make better decisions, more careful staff and hard work. towards recovery.
Gaining a sense, an understanding, and even a sure knowledge of one’s worth is a process that is very gradual. The fact that we are patient and consistently take action over time helps us not only to achieve recovery, but also to maintain and retain it in the long term. It prevents against relapses and protects and solidifies recovery in our lives.
The word recovery means “to bring back what was lost.” In that sense, when we are in recovery, we regain our lost perceptions, perspectives, thoughts, feelings, relationships, and sense of identity, both who we are and who we can be. Similarly, when we regain our true sense of self-worth,
We also recover what was lost. I sincerely believe that each of us once, at a very young age, understood something of our value. This can be seen in a young child running around the house naked, running away from his parents for a few moments after a bath, or in the careless words of a child, who simply says everything he feels to say, without hesitation. These are examples of a child’s state before he begins to lose his sense of self and his sense of goodness. This is before we receive false messages from those around us that teach us that we are flawed, broken, not good enough, and not good enough.
Fortunately, while there are many losses in life, the “loss of sense of self and worth” is one that can be recovered. The following are some ideas and places to start building anew, a high, truthful and positive sense of identity, and the knowledge of one’s individual worth:
Be willing to be wrong about how useless you think you are
Start with the frankness that “maybe” I’m not as bad or useless as I think I am. “The realities can start with Maybes.”
Seek to see some of your identity and worth in the mirror of the faces of those you know love you, care about you, know you well, and have your best interest at heart. Start by admitting at least that they see the good in you, even if you don’t understand what or how.
Seek to become your own mirror and witness to your beauty, your wonder, your magnificent worth and your goodness.
Learn to look for and notice the good things in yourself. The things you feel good about, the things you are proud of. Find them, tell the truth about them, document them in your journal, and read these journal entries frequently.
Treat yourself “as if” you are worth it all, until you know you are worth it all. Treating yourself like this will help those feelings and understanding grow.
Learn to leave behind the damaging external criteria of self-worth that is sold in our modern Western Culture Market. Stop using appearance and approval as markers or evidence of self-worth.
Learn to look for inner evidence of self-worth, including: talents, gifts, hard work, effort, deepest desires, principles, character, love, commitment, and the intentions of the heart.
Learn to listen, understand, and then follow your own heart, and understand that it is linked to self-identity and self-esteem.
Set reasonable and modest goals, and then take small steps toward your goals. Keep your feet moving in the direction of the goal, not at lightning speed, but with consistency and persistence.
Strive to live a life of consistency and integrity so that you can say to yourself, “Not all things went my way today, but at least I strove to live the way I think I need and want to live” (remember: perfection it is unnecessary, while it requires effort).
Learn to self-correct when you make a mistake, instead of becoming a harsh judge and jury. Learn to learn from mistakes, stand up, discard, clarify what you’ve learned, and try again with your newfound understanding.
Reflect on the truth that we are the art of the Creator, “who has not made garbage”, but rather, a person of great beauty both inside and out.
Remember that the sense of self-worth is both psychological and spiritual. Embrace your spirituality, honor your spiritual beliefs, and live with goodwill towards everyone, including yourself.
Remember that loving yourself and others is the most powerful healing force available. Take steps to ask for help and receive love in your life. Express your love for others without “holding back.”
Friends: improving self-esteem, self-esteem, self-image, body image, sense of self, sense of identity, self-understanding, and self-love are high goals, but goals that are at the same time. reach of all of us. These states of true understanding come over time, as a result of the processes of being willing to see, doing the hard work of treating yourself well, giving what you have to give to others, and receiving the love and support that you give. others also have for us. . Let us continue on this path towards being, knowledge and becoming, never to stop!