There is something wonderfully bold and liberating about saying yes to our entire imperfect and messy life.
-Tara Brach
Don’t you love this quote from Tara Brach? It takes work to be perfectly imperfect in our daily messy lives! It also takes work to create self-worth internally. It takes work to know that you’re enough internally as well.
However, many of us struggle internally with self-love, self-worth, self-value, etc. Add in external struggles and other people’s judgments and criticisms of us, and without boundaries, their issues can very easily be absorbed by us. Their issues can become our own issues if we’re not careful. For a lot of us, the work is also figuring out what issues are truly ours that need to be worked through and released, and what issues are actually other people’s issues that need to be externalized and sent back to sender.
Here’s what’s to come in this blog: where not feeling like you’re enough may stem from, what not feeling like you’re enough may sound like, and wrapping up with self-care ideas for when you’re struggling with self-worth. Hope it’s helpful!
Where not feeling like you’re enough may stem from:
- Familial roles
- Perfectionism
- Being blamed by others
- Past unresolved trauma
- A mental health struggle
- A way of doing life that was modeled by your parents
- Parents who didn’t show up for you
- Looking for your worth and value externally
What else would you add here?
What not feeling like you’re enough may sound like:
- I’m not loved for who I truly am
- I’m not truly seen by others
- Who I am isn’t important
- I’m not perfect enough
- I don’t have value
- I don’t do enough
- I’m not worthy
- I’m living a lie
- I don’t matter
What else would you add to this list?
Here are some self-care ideas for when you’re struggling with self-worth:
- Write in a journal- do a mind dump journaling session and then write from a place of being heart-centered
- Got to therapy- individual therapy can be so helpful here
- Do something creative like painting, coloring, drawing, etc.
- Focus on mindfulness and being present in this moment
- Create a daily mantra like be yourself or be here now
- Snuggle with your pets- one of the best types of self-care in my opinion!
- Practice sending loving kindness towards yourself and others
- Spend time with loved ones- people who truly know you, truly like you and truly love you
What else helps you when you’re struggling with self-care in your own life?
If you’re struggling in your own life right now, know that you’re not alone. Many of us struggle with self-love, self-worth and self-value at different times in our lives. If you could use more help and support today, please reach out to your doctor or a therapist in your area. I’m thinking of you and sending lots of love and support your way as you navigate stabilizing feelings of self-love, self-worth and self-value within yourself!
