Dear Monica Understanding your self worth
W
e often take for granted how special and unique we are. Through the experiences and encounters we have had with other people may have at times made us doubt ourselves which causes us to foster negative perceptions about ourselves. When we listen to others about how we must act, dress, eat, walk, talk and even feel causes these negative thoughts that we have about ourselves. These constant ridicules and
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PAIN. HEALING. ENDURANCE
rude remarks may come from family members, significant others and even the so-called friends that we have and their views can eventually take its toll. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines self-worth as “a sense of one’s own value as a human being”. Shaped As human beings we are continuously shaped and molded by the images of others and of society. Weibell (2011) reports, “The basic assumption of the self-worth
model is that multiple factors influence one’s sense of self worth”. Our environment plays an instrumental role in shaping/molding us such as our communities, family, friends, religion and even the education system. The community and its leaders can influence how we view ourselves because they can import their beliefs on us. These leaders may suggest that our direction in life should consist of generous amounts of volunteerism in our lives. The same community leaders in-
