No Matter the Functioning of Your Body, You are Worthy

In moments when we are feeling down, disrespected, or like a burden, it is hard to feel like you are enough let alone worthy. And these moments can stretch to full days, weeks, months, and then can become a state of being.

Ask yourself, do you feel worthy? Have you ever felt worthy? Is there a time where you can identify when you stopped feeling worthy?

It may be when you started having symptoms and/or your physicality changed from being “normal”. This is something that many people experience: that when their body and health changes so does their perspectives of themselves and their place in the world. As we work through the grief of a changed body and everything in life that goes along with it—as well as the mental anguish of fear, stress, anxiety, and a feeling of burdening those around us—we drop from ourselves the knowledge of being worthy. When looking at this list it makes sense why our sense of self changes! This is a lot to put on ourselves and we don’t often treat ourselves nice as we go through this—we beat ourselves up for not being able to do what we used to do or for what other people can do, and suddenly we have either dropped our estimation of our worthiness considerably or believe we are worthless.

Let me say something that is extremely important: we are all worthy. No matter who we are, what we can or cannot do, what we look like, what we feel, or what we think about ourselves, we are all worthy. Does this mean we are perfect? No but no one is and we are still all worthy! We are all growing every day and that is what is important, not perfection. And this growth—mentally, physically, emotionally, intellectually, relationally, spiritually—is what makes us human and all humans are worthy.

We would never call a friend or family member unworthy, that would be cruel. So why do we call ourselves unworthy? Self-compassion can help us here as we apply what we would say to others—the kindness and love that we would give to them when they are struggling—and apply it to ourselves. This is a first great step. The next step is starting to believe that we are worthy, recognizing that everyone is worthy and so are we. How to start? Fake it to you make it! Our brain loves repetition so repeat to yourself “I am worthy” three times in a row every day and see how your mindset towards this statement changes for the positive. And trust me this really works, I have tried this and the progress I have made is great.

If you feel uncomfortable to do this on your own or feel like something is blocking you, reach out to me and we can work on it together.

In September as nature changes it reminds us that change is natural and good. That we are allowed to change and that no matter how our appearance changes we are still who we are and we are worthy. Try saying “I am worthy” each day and see how the positive changes play out in your life. Enjoy the last bit of summer’s warmth and prepare for the coziness of fall.