Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world- Lucille Ball
On my 16th birthday my Aunt gave me an Iyanla Vanzant book titled ‘Don’t Give It Away’. The book was part self-help, part self-esteem workbook that I devoured. I did all of the exercises, cut out the mantras and pasted them on my bedroom mirror. Sayings like “You are so much more than you can see” and “I have a choice to stay mad or feel better!”. I carried the book with me and referred to its gems as my own personal cheerleader and self-worth coach. To this day, I hold that book as my first foray into understanding and acknowledging my self-worth.
Nearly 11 years later and I am still dissecting what it truly means to know and live in your self-worth. We are constantly bombarded with images and messaging about self-confidence and loving ourselves, but do we truly internalize it? Do we truly believe in our heart that we are intelligent, beautiful, dynamic, funny and deserving of all that life has to give? And if we do internalize all of our greatness and strength, why is it so easy for one to come along and make us doubt our self-worth?
What are you Worth?
Realizing your self-worth has nothing to do with platitudes or delusions of grandeur. It’s about living the beauty of who you are at every given moment! It’s about recognizing that no matter what you have done, where you have been or what people think about you, you are creature of God and the universe. And because of that simple fact you are worth more than gold!
But saying that you are deserving of: a loving relationship, a fulfilling career, hell a new pair of shoes, is different than believing it! When the things we so desperately want don’t materialize we are so quick to doubt whether we deserve them or are worth it.
Instead of doubting our worth, how about we own up to how freaking amazing we are? Because you are truly WORTH it and deserving of having everything you have ever dreamed of because:
- You are TALENTED beyond measure
- Someone you have never met finds you awe-inspiring!
- You radiate beauty by just being yourself
- Strength, Power & Exuberance are your first, middle and last names!
- You THRIVE on improving yourself
- The Past crumbles under your feet and gives way to your bright Future
- Because “Who’s Gonna Check you Boo?”
- You find amazement in the tiniest pleasures
- Like Helen of Troy, your smile breaks a million hearts and launches a thousand ships
- 6-Inch Heels are no match for your strut!
- You are magnanimous, altruistic and all that JAZZ!
- You love like a child: unassuming and full of sincerity
- Because you KICK ASS!
LOVE this post, Fajr. You know, there is something going on with your feed to Bloglovin’…I’ve been thinking you haven’t posted for months because nothing shows up. And so I haven’t been visiting…and missing your brilliance! Any idea what’s going on?
••V••
http://www.gritandglamour.com
@gritandglamour
Thanks V! I was missing you around here!
I have no idea what’s going on with Bloglovin’. But thanks for the heads up!
This post is so inspiring, and even as a girl who is generally very confident in who I am, I feel a bit lacking from time-to-time. I’m totally saving this post for those days so I can pull it up and read why I am worth it.
Thanks so much Chelsea! That means a lot to me
I absolutely LOVE this post. I’m actually working on a post, kind of a social commentary on self-esteem/self worth with regards to differences in size and shape and whether or not that should effect your freedom in fashion. I’m gonna link back to this post, I think it’s such a great message.
Good job Fajr!
Thanks Christina! Can’t wait to read your post!