Self-worth refers to the person's overall evaluation of his/her worth as a person, based on all positive and negative self-perceptions. It is about feeling good inside because of your actions, beliefs, or inner strength. It is the core of believing in oneself as something worthy of living, loving, and accepting. When we have a strong sense of self-worth, we are better equipped to overcome life's challenges, build healthy relationships, and achieve our goals.

Why Does Self-Worth Matter?

Resilience: People possessing high self-esteem are found to be more resilient when faced with failures or losses. They are less likely to give up or blame themselves but try to learn from their mistakes.

Healthy Relationships: self-worth plays a crucial role in our relationships with others. When we like ourselves, we are less likely to be involved in unhealthy or abusive relationships. 

Success: A positive self-esteem can fuel our motivation and energy to succeed. It helps us believe in our abilities and to achieve big dreams. 

Happiness: Happiness is in close relation to self-worth. We are most likely to feel happiness, joy, contentment, and fulfilment when we feel we are good enough and that we are worthy of everything. 

How to Build Self-Worth

Acceptance – Accept everything about you—your looks, your way of doing things, your work. Your worth comes from you. The constant need to change ourselves makes us feel less confident about ourselves, and so we refuse to accept ourselves the way we are. Focus on the things you like about yourself. You are worthy the way you are.

Learn to accept yourself - Accept your flaws and imperfections. Everyone has flaws, and those are what make us different. 

Decisions: Be in the driver’s seat of your life. Be courageous to free yourself from rules and take risks in life. Understand yourself, accept yourself, love yourself, take responsibility for your life, and use your personal power to decide and to act. 

Challenge negative thoughts: What you think you become, hence pay attention to your thoughts and challenge negative self-talk. Replace negative beliefs with positive affirmations such as “I am worthy," “I have what it takes to be extremely successful," and “I am a great problem solver.”. 

Don’t compare: Try to base your expectations of yourself on what you do and your aspirations, not what others are doing. There is nothing positive to be gained from worrying about how you compare to others. 

Self-care: Take care of your health, both physically and mentally. It means eating healthy, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and controlling stress and anxiety. 

Set realistic goals: Set achievable goals and celebrate your successes, no matter how small. In this way, you will be building your confidence and self-esteem.

Surround Yourself with Positive People: Spend time with people who uplift and support you; avoid toxic relationships that can erode your self-worth. 

Learn to say no: Don't overcommit yourself. Prioritise your needs and boundaries. 

Practice gratitude: Reflect on the good things in your life and express thanks for what you do have. This can help you to reframe your perspective and boost your self-confidence.

Practice self-compassion: Treat yourself with kindness and understanding, just as you would towards others. Respect and forgive yourself. 

Identify your needs and live in alignment with them - your individual personality needs can be a driving force for your behavior and how you self-identify. If you don't know who you are at your code, it's easy to live out of alignment with your needs. This may impact your ability to show up fully and effectively in your life and can be a huge blow to your self-confidence and self-worth. Work on really getting to know yourself and what you truly need, and practice living along with these needs. 

In conclusion, the understanding and cultivation of self-worth are paramount for our overall well-being. By challenging negative thoughts, engaging in self-care practices, setting realistic goals, surrounding ourselves with positive influences, accepting our flaws, and seeking professional assistance when necessary, we can effectively build and reinforce our self-esteem. It is essential to remember that self-worth represents a journey rather than a destination. With consistent effort and self-compassion, we have the potential to develop a robust sense of self-belief and lead more fulfilling lives.