Self-Worth: Where Does It Come From? Essay

The concept of self-worth is critical to understand as it implies identifying and valuing oneself as a person. This notion cannot be measured against any scale or standard, which makes it difficult to define and estimate. As a result, some people struggle with self-understanding and determining the sources of their worth. In my view, self-worth is an internal state derived from within an individual and not from the external environment. Despite a widespread belief, self-acceptance does not depend on the viewpoints and words of other people; instead, it focuses on discovering and regarding oneself.

With numerous factors contributing to our beliefs, perspectives, and, eventually, self-worth, it is easy to draw upon others’ ideas of the meaning and purpose of life. According to Flynn and Chow, self-esteem along with self-worth are “factors that are correlated with subjective stress” (83). I believe that accepting yourself and your own outlook on life is critical to coming to terms with yourself and avoiding feeling stressed, anxious, or guilty for no apparent reason. Since there is no universal meaning in life, each individual acquires it in their own ways. Once I realized this idea, it became easier for me to accept and appreciate myself. My self-worth does not originate in other people but comes from my perspective on life and the respect for my own beliefs, choices, experiences, actions, and goals.

Lack of respect for oneself prevents the individual from fully discovering their potential, achieving their unique goals, and pursuing happiness. Furthermore, a person’s value is not determined by their age, gender, appearance, academic performance, career, relationship status, financial situation, or accomplishments. My self-worth is all about my inner harmony with how I am and where I find myself at the given point. The outside forces that are beyond one’s control cannot be used to measure one’s value.

Reference

Flynn, Deborah M., and Peter Chow. “Self-Efficacy, Self-Worth and Stress.” Education, vol. 138, no. 1, 2017, pp. 83-88. Web.