DM: SELF WORTH

All the good things in life—abundance, fulfilling relationships, career success, business opportunities, and financial well-being—ultimately blossom from one essential seed: how we value ourselves and the love and respect we hold within. When we feel worthy, we unconsciously open the door for life’s gifts to flow our way. But if our sense of self-worth is buried under doubts and fears, we often find ourselves blocked from the very abundance we yearn for.

For many people, a fragile sense of worth begins in childhood. Overly critical parents or caregivers can plant the doubt that we’re never good enough, while a lack of genuine praise and validation may leave us questioning our abilities, unsure if we ever truly measure up.

Trauma, too, can shake the foundations of self-esteem. Emotional or psychological mistreatment can rob us of the belief that we deserve kindness and love. Chronic rejection—whether in early years or later in life—etches itself into our psyche, making us question if we’re worthy of acceptance and belonging.

Sometimes, the culprit is the relentless drive for perfection. When we set impossible standards for ourselves, even small missteps feel monumental, reinforcing the lie that we’re failing at life. In an age where social media parades polished highlights of others’ triumphs, it’s all too easy to feel hopelessly behind or perpetually unworthy.

Another layer of struggle arises when self-worth depends on external applause. If our confidence hinges on how others view us, we become vulnerable to every tide of praise or criticism. This shaky foundation can crumble the moment someone withholds approval or when we face an inevitable setback.

Yet what we all truly need is to feel accepted just for being who we are. In a caring environment that allows exploration without severe judgment, we find the courage to make mistakes and learn from them. But when vulnerability is met with scorn or indifference, a fear of rejection can become so overwhelming that we bury our real selves beneath protective masks.

We also need our feelings to be heard and validated. When people brush aside our emotions or label them as unimportant, we lose sight of our intrinsic worth. And the never-ending comparisons—whether from family members, colleagues, or an idealized online world—tend to gnaw away at our confidence when we’re not living up to someone else’s metrics for success.

Over time, these obstacles solidify into deep-seated fears and limiting beliefs. The terror of being rejected can convince us to stay silent and settle for less. The determination to avoid getting hurt can lock us into patterns that only reinforce our lack of self-worth. Doubts like “I’m not good enough” and “I don’t deserve love” settle in, becoming unwelcome companions we can’t shake off.

Yet within each of us lies a powerful resilience. Recognizing and understanding how these feelings develop is the first, crucial step in creating a healthier relationship with ourselves. With the right support—places and people who offer unconditional acceptance—we can begin unraveling the layers of self-doubt. We can learn to redefine our worth not by external measures or the approval of others, but by the unshakeable truth that we are enough simply by virtue of being human.

When we finally give ourselves that gift of self-love and respect, we unlock the potential for life’s greatest treasures to flow naturally to us. Fulfilling relationships, meaningful work, and financial stability—they all have room to grow once our own worthiness stands firm at the center of who we are.