Self-Worth and Gratitude

Nothing breaks my heart more than to see people not feel their own inherent worth.  I see it in the people I love and definitely with the clients at the day treatment program I work at.  Not to mention--I was once there myself.  At one time I didn't value myself and I didn't feel as though I deserved anything good because of my low self-worth.  It was a pretty miserable existence.

But that was then!  Today I have an unwaivering self-love and a recognition that I deserve what every single other human being does--happiness, inner peace, and love!

I got to thinking about the relationship between gratitude and self-worth, since gratitude is my theme for the week.  I remember back to when I had low self-worth that I didn't appreciate anything--I discounted or devalued everything good in my life.  I was constantly looking outside of myself for proof that I am a worthy human being.  I looked to men, friends, and even complete strangers to show me my value.  But I didn't like myself (for lots of reasons that I worked through in therapy) and when you don't like yourself, you perceive that no one else does either.  It was this perpetual vicious cycle of self-loathing and the interpretation that people didn't like me, which lead to more self-loathing.  Awful!

So, today instead of looking outside of myself for validation--I validate myself and I love myself.  I do this by appreciating what I have already.  I deserve all the wonderful things I have and I deserve the love that I get because it is my basic human right.  And sorry if I sound like a broken record already, but gratitude begets abundance...I'm only going to get MORE of what I deserve by being grateful.

Can I get an AMEN?!!

Song:  "Just Fine" by Mary J. Blige
Mantra:  "I love myself.  I am worthy of others' love.  I am a complete human being."

NAMASTE!
Brooke