Do you know that little voice inside your head that constantly doubts you and chips away at your confidence? It’s time to turn down the volume. Having a strong sense of self-worth is one of the most powerful gifts you can give yourself. When you appreciate your own worth, you don’t let self-doubt hold you back from achieving your dreams.
You feel empowered to take on new challenges, pursue meaningful goals, and say no when something doesn’t feel right. You accept yourself unconditionally instead of seeking validation through the eyes of others. By adopting the habits of people with healthy self-esteem, you too can strengthen your belief in yourself each and every day.
Here in this article, we explore two types of self-worth examples; 5 healthy self-worth examples and 5 low self-worth examples.
Table of Contents
What is Healthy Self-Worth?
A healthy sense of self-worth means you value yourself for who you are, flaws, and all. You accept yourself unconditionally, without judgment. Some key habits of people with strong self-worth include:
Speaking Kindly to Yourself
Notice the thoughts you have about yourself each day. Do you criticize yourself harshly over small mistakes or imperfections? People with healthy self-worth show themselves compassion. They speak to themselves with encouragement and praise for their efforts and accomplishments.
- Replace negative self-talk with more constructive ways of viewing situations. Say, “I made a mistake, but I’ll learn from it,” rather than “I’m so stupid.”
- Practice self-care. Getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and exercising release feel-good hormones and help you maintain a balanced perspective.
Setting Boundaries
You respect yourself enough to say no when you need to. You don’t let others take advantage of your time or make you feel guilty for not always being available to them.
- Be polite but firm in communicating your limits to others. Say, “No, I can’t make it to dinner tonight, but let’s try for this weekend.”
- Make sure to schedule time for yourself to recharge. Even taking 15–30 minutes a day to do something you enjoy can help you feel rejuvenated and better able to be there for the people who need you.
Accepting Yourself
Learn to appreciate yourself for who you are, imperfections included. No one is without flaws, so permit yourself to be human. People with healthy self-worth focus on their good qualities rather than perceived deficits.
- Write down things you like about yourself each day. Developing self-awareness and self-appreciation takes practice.
- Surround yourself with people who love and support you unconditionally. Their positivity can help strengthen your own self-worth.
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Self-Worth Examples
Happiness comes from within, so start there and change your life.
1. You are not Afraid to be Yourself.
To have a strong sense of self-worth, you must embrace who you are, quirks, imperfections, and all.
- Don’t be afraid to express your authentic self. Speak up about your opinions and values, set boundaries, and don’t bend to please others. When you accept yourself, it’s easier for others to accept you too.
- Pursue your passions and interests without apology. Whether it’s gaming, art, sports, or bird-watching, dive into what ignites your curiosity. Don’t let self-doubt hold you back from exploring your gifts and talents.
- Surround yourself with people who appreciate you for who you are. The relationships in our lives have an enormous impact on our self-esteem. Choose friends and partners who make you feel good about yourself.
While it’s not always easy, learning to fully accept yourself is one of the most liberating things you can do. You are a unique, multifaceted, and complex human being. There is no one else exactly like you in this world, so embrace your true self and celebrate all that makes you! When you do, you’ll develop an inner strength and confidence that are unshakeable.
2. You are Confident in Your Abilities.
You know your strengths and play to them. Rather than doubt yourself, focus on your abilities and the value you provide.
- Identify your key talents, skills, and strengths. Write them down and review them often. Recognize what makes you uniquely you.
- Set goals that leverage your strengths. Don’t waste time trying to improve at things you’re just not good at. Excel in areas that come naturally to you.
- Accept that you cannot be good at everything. No one can. Free yourself from unrealistic expectations of perfection. You have natural gifts; use them!
- Do not let self-doubt hold you back from opportunities. When chances arise, have confidence in yourself and your abilities. Take risks and go for new challenges that play to your strengths.
You have so much talent and potential within you. Believe in yourself and your capabilities. Do not discount yourself before even trying. You are braver and more talented than you realize.
With self-confidence, you can achieve great things. Focus on your strengths, accept yourself as you are, and go after your dreams. Do not let fear and doubt stop you from using your talents and skills to reach your full potential. You’ve got this! Now get out there and shine.
3. You are Forgiving Yourself.
To have a healthy sense of self-worth, you must learn to forgive yourself for your imperfections and mistakes.
Accept that you will fail at times.
Everyone stumbles and falls short of their ideals on occasion. Do not be too hard on yourself when you make a mistake or experience a setback. Learn from your failures and use them as stepping stones to growth rather than barriers.
- Adopt a growth mindset. View failures and imperfections as learning opportunities rather than permanent flaws. With hard work and persistence, you can improve.
- Be kind to yourself. Speak to yourself with the same compassion you would show a friend. Do not insult or harshly criticize yourself for your errors.
- Forgive yourself and move forward. Do not dwell on your shortcomings or past mistakes. Accept them and shift your focus to doing better next time. The past cannot be changed, so avoid wasting energy on regret and guilt.
You are a work in progress.
Remember that you are constantly evolving and improving. Do not expect perfection from yourself. Have patience with yourself as you progress on your journey. Like all people, you are a work in progress.
- Celebrate small wins. Do not discount the progress you have made just because you have not yet achieved all your goals. Be proud of how far you have come.
- Compare yourself only to your past self. Do not measure your worth by comparing yourself to others. You have your own unique path, so focus on bettering yourself rather than competing with others.
Learning self-forgiveness and patience with yourself are keys to developing healthy self-worth and inner peace. Be kind to yourself; you deserve it. With practice, self-compassion will become second nature.
4. You Accept Feedback with an Open Mind.
People with healthy self-worth know that there is always room for growth. They see feedback not as personal criticism but as an opportunity to better themselves.
- You listen without interruption or defensiveness. You understand that the other person’s perspective, even if different from your own, comes from a place of good intention.
- You ask follow-up questions to make sure you fully understand the feedback and why it’s being given. Then you reflect on how it can help you improve.
- You maintain an open and willing attitude. You know that all feedback contains a kernel of truth, even if it’s not obvious. Look for it.
- You say “Thank you.” Expressing gratitude for the feedback, even if it’s hard to hear, shows you appreciate the other person’s time and care in providing it.
People with healthy self-worth seek to continually strengthen their character and skills. They know feedback is a gift, and they receive it with poise, courage, and an open heart. Choose to grow from each experience. Let go of your ego, open your mind, and get better every day. Continuous self-improvement is a journey, not a destination.
5. You are Grateful for What You Have.
One of the hallmarks of people with a strong sense of self-worth is an attitude of gratitude. When you appreciate what you have, you feel content with your life and value yourself for who you are.
- Make a habit of noticing the simple pleasures in your day and expressing thanks for them. Say thank you for things like your morning coffee or tea, the sunrise or sunset, your cozy bed, music that uplifts you, and friends who make you laugh. Verbally state how you feel, even if it’s just to yourself.
- Start a gratitude journal and write down a few things you are grateful for each day. Reviewing them regularly helps shift your mindset to one of abundance and away from scarcity or lack.
- Compare yourself to who you were in the past and be grateful for how far you’ve come, rather than comparing yourself to others. Your journey is your own.
- Help others in need through volunteering or donations. Giving to others boosts your own feelings of self-worth and fulfillment.
When you practice living gratefully, you realize you already have within you everything you need to feel good about yourself. Your inherent worth has nothing to do with what you achieve or accumulate in life and everything to do with who you are—a unique, multifaceted human being deserving of love and belonging. Make the choice each day to appreciate yourself and be grateful for the gift of your life.
What is Low Self-Worth?
Low self-worth means seeing yourself as less valuable or capable than you really are. If you struggle with feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt, know that you are not alone. Many face difficulties in learning to appreciate themselves. But you have the power to change that.
You are a unique, multi-faceted being with inherent worth. Focus on your strengths, talents, and accomplishments, however small they may seem. Celebrate them. Be kind to yourself and silence your inner critic.
Speak to yourself with encouragement and praise. Replace negative self-talk with more constructive ways of viewing situations. See failures and mistakes as learning opportunities rather than proof of your perceived shortcomings.
Surround yourself with people who appreciate you for who you are. Their positivity can help shift your mindset and remind you of your own awesomeness. You are worthy; believe that, and keep working to build your confidence from the inside out.
Low Self-Worth Examples
With compassion and perseverance, you can overcome feelings of low self-worth. Learn to fully embrace the wonderful person you are, imperfections and all. You deserve to feel valued and live without limits based on your self-doubt. Rewrite your story and make self-love the theme. .
1. You’re a People-Pleaser.
You have so much wonderfulness within you, yet you constantly seek validation from others. Why is that?
- You believe your worth is defined by what people think of you. You rely on compliments and praise to feel good about yourself.
- You feel inadequate and fear rejection. You try to please everyone to avoid disapproval and harsh judgment.
- You were rarely given unconditional love and acceptance as a child. You grew up feeling you had to earn affection and approval.
But your worth isn’t defined by external factors. You are intrinsically valuable simply because you exist. You don’t need approval or praise to be enough.
It’s time to start validating yourself. Speak to yourself with compassion. Forgive your imperfections. Accept who you are; you are the only you there is, and you are amazing because of it.
Believe in yourself and your own abilities. You already have everything within you to feel whole and worthy. Now is the time to embrace self-love and let your light shine through!
2. You Beat Yourself up Over Mistakes.
Everyone makes mistakes, yet you seem unable to forgive yourself for yours. You beat yourself up over small slip-ups and imperfections, viewing them as personal failures. This habit erodes your self-worth over time.
Rather than dwelling on mistakes, look at them as opportunities to grow. Ask yourself what you can learn from the experience to do better next time. Then shift your focus to the future and how you will improve. Don’t waste time and energy regretting the past; accept that no one is perfect and move on.
Learn self-compassion. Treat yourself with the same kindness and empathy you would show a friend. Speak to yourself encouragingly and focus on your strengths and accomplishments as well as your mistakes. Over time, the habit of self-criticism can fade as you build appreciation for yourself, flaws and all. You are a work in progress, so be gentle with yourself along the way.
Everyone struggles with self-doubt at times. The key is not to let your perceived imperfections and mistakes define your self-worth. Challenge negative self-talk and instead focus on self-improvement and growth. You are more than your perceived failures and shortcomings. With practice, you can overcome unhealthy habits of harsh self-judgment and build confidence from a place of self-acceptance. You deserve to feel good about yourself, your mistakes, and all.
3. You Constantly Seek Validation From Others.
When you suffer from low self-worth, you rely heavily on the approval and praise of those around you. You may find yourself constantly seeking validation through:
- Asking others for their opinions before making decisions
- Needing regular compliments and reassurance about your choices and abilities
- Fearing confrontation or disagreement because it may reflect poorly on you
- Changing your interests, values, or appearance based on what will please other people
The truth is, you are enough, just as you are. You don’t need approval or praise to be worthy or valuable. Learn to validate yourself through self-acceptance and self-compassion. Remind yourself of your strengths, values, and accomplishments. Do things that boost your confidence from the inside out. Don’t let your sense of worth depend on the ever-changing opinions of others. You are deserving of love simply because you exist.
4. You Have Trouble Speaking Up for Yourself: Find your voice.
Do you have trouble speaking up for yourself in social situations or at work? Do you feel hesitant to share your opinions or ask for what you need? This is a sign that you may struggle with low self-worth.
When you don’t feel valuable or deserving, it’s difficult to express your true self. You may feel that your thoughts, feelings, and needs don’t matter. But they do! You have a unique voice that deserves to be heard.
It’s time to start valuing yourself. Practice self-compassion—be kind to yourself and focus on your strengths and accomplishments. Believe that you matter and have meaningful contributions to offer the world.
As your self-confidence grows, so will your ability to speak up constructively. Start small by sharing a little more in conversations, asking questions without apology, and saying “no” when you need to. With regular practice, you’ll get better at communicating in an authentic, powerful way.
Discover your self-worth and find your voice. You have so much amazingness within you; let it shine through! Speaking up is the first step to gaining more confidence from the inside out.
5. You Struggle With Perfectionism: The Tyranny of Perfection
Do you feel crushed under the weight of your own unrealistic expectations? If you struggle with perfectionism, you likely hold yourself to impossibly high standards in many areas of your life.
You may believe that anything less than perfect is unacceptable. But perfection is an illusion; it’s unattainable. When you demand perfection from yourself, you set yourself up for failure and diminished self-worth.
Learn to embrace your imperfections; they make you a perfect human. Replace self-criticism with self-compassion. When you make a mistake, speak to yourself with the same kindness and empathy you would show a friend.
Remember that you are enough, just as you are. Your worth isn’t defined by your achievements, appearance, or what others think of you. You are deserving of love simply because you exist.
Let go of perfection and choose to appreciate yourself for who you are, flaws and all. You will find so much freedom and peace in accepting yourself unconditionally. Love yourself as you are instead of as you think you should be.
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Conclusion
You have the power to build your self-worth every single day through conscious choices and actions. Focus on nurturing your physical and mental well-being, pursue your passions, and surround yourself with people who appreciate you for who you are.
Make progress each day towards your goals and dreams, however small. Forgive yourself for your imperfections and mistakes, then move forward. You are a unique, multi-dimensional human being with inherent worth; believe that truth and make it the foundation of how you live your life. Take these habits to heart and watch your confidence and self-worth grow. You’ve got this! Now go out there and be your amazing self.
REFERENCES
- Six behaviors to increase your confidence | Emily Jaenson | TEDxReno – YouTube Video
- The Trouble With Self-Esteem By Lauren Slate published in The New York Times Magazine
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