I’m in real estate so the question of how much a property is “worth” is a daily conversation in my world. But there are so many other ways we use this word….like is something “worth” your time? If you are stewing over something someone said to you, you friend might ask you if it’s “worth” the level of emotional energy and attention you are giving it. Beyond financial merit, we use this word to measure other things we have in finite supply. Today, I was journaling about my “worth”. Many of us struggle with our sense of value and worth whether we measure it in impact, skills, earning power, physical accomplishments or spiritual maturity. The sting of a rejection or a long string of failures on the way to goals that matter can leave us feeling less-than.

Here’s the question I asked myself….what is my sense of worth based on? What I accomplish? Goals achieved? The approval of people? Awards won? The number on the scale? The amount of money I earn? Ouch. These are all external measures. Knowing and valuing who you are is not just something that happens in high school and college, it’s a lifelong pursuit that will require you to be honest, vulnerable and kind to yourself. As I journaled today, I realized many of my markers for assessing my “worth”, my value as a human, were very external and I was not measuring up. I am old enough to know better, but here I am. So I want you to know, that I see you. That you are a beautiful and unique set of talents, perspectives, experiences and traits and I need you to be YOU, wonderful you. Let’s promise to show up for one another just as we are and champion the good we see in each other especially when we are blind to it in ourselves. Let me be a mirror to all that is praiseworthy in YOU and I welcome you to do the same for me. You are WORTH it. As Johnny Prine would say, “You got gold inside of you!”