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The Foundation of Self-Worth

In my ongoing study of human behavior I have a lot of discussions with people about self worth and how it plays such a significant role in our lives. Everyone knows that it's better to have good self worth vs. bad, yet what is amazing to me is how few people really understand what exactly self worth is. More importantly, it's very rare to run across someone that understands where the true building blocks of good self worth come from. In this article I'll explore just what makes up the foundation of good self-worth.

What Self worth Is Not  

If you ask the average person what makes them have good self worth you'll get an infinite number of answers, most of which are wrong. You might hear someone say they have good self worth when they feel pretty. Another might say it's when they make a bunch of money or when they sit in their new car. Most people associate self worth with surface level things such as appearance, what we own, or how much money we have. But is that really what creates good self worth? Apparently not. Afterall, the world is full of wealthy, beautiful people that are insecure and miserable inside.   

Self Discipline and Self Competency  

What really creates good self worth is self discipline and self competency. Every time you make a promise to yourself...and keep it; whether to go to the gym, do a task at work, eat or not eat a certain food...you raise your self worth. The contrary is true as well. If you eat that piece of cake you know you shouldn't, or you procrastinate a project until it's too late to do your best...each of these lowers your self worth because you are breaking an implied promise to yourself of what you know you should do. This is why self discipline is a root creator of self-worth.    While looking pretty, being in shape, making a lot of money or driving a nice car are all fun things that you enjoy, the real pleasure comes in knowing that you exercised the self-discipline to EARN those things. That's the pride of self-discipline which leads to self competency which in turn leads to self-worth.

Think for a second of the spoiled child of a wealthy person that has been given everything but never had to earn it from his own self discipline. He is not self competent.  Inside, as much as he might try and put on a front of self worth in fact he is insecure because he knows what he has he has not earned. This lack of self competency and the low self worth that accompanies it is rampant among those that did not earn what they have and they frequently put up facades of arrogance, snobbishness or anger. Personality flaws such as these are sure signs of low self worth as the self competent person has no need for building walls of denial to hide behind.  

One of the best ways to build self worth is to have a regular workout routine. The simple act of keeping a promise to yourself each and every day will build a foundation of self discipline that you can then use to conquer other objectives in your life. Remember, your brain is just like a muscle in that the more you do something, it actually grows more neurons and customizes and strengthens chemical and nerve pathways to reinforce your new habits, making it easier to stick to. This ability of the brain to change and adapt even in adulthood is called neuro-plasticity and is a great subject to know about for those seeking to pursue greater self worth and self awareness.