Getting To Know Self-Worth And 5 Ways Not To Be Discouraged

Self-worth illustration (Unsplash / Allef Vinicius)

JAKARTA – In psychology, there are various terms related to self, namely self-esteem, self-confidence, self-love, self-respect, and self-worth. Self-worth and self-esteem have no significant difference.

But according to Dr. Christina Hebbert, reported by Positive Psychology, Friday, September 3, self-esteem is what we think, feel, and believe about ourselves. While self-worth is admitting that 'I am greater than all these things'.

Self-worth is the deep knowledge that we are worthy and lovable, necessary for life, and meaningful. This decrease in self-worth is often experienced after a loss, such as after a breakup, separating from a partner, losing someone, or losing a job.

Self-worth is also significantly different from self-confidence. If self-confidence does not cover all self-evaluations, it includes self-worth. More specific self-confidence, for example, may have low self-confidence in a field that you are not involved in.

Self-worth is at the core of who we are, including thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to the way we view worth and value as human beings.

Well, theoretically what determines self-worth or self-worth include performativity, adequacy, judgments from others, what has been done, and what has been achieved.

However, without these five things, one can feel one's worth. It's unique and mentally healthy. Because often comparing anything you have with other people's judgments, of course it won't make life happier, right?

Someone who does not excel but knows what he likes and strives for can still have self-worth. Meanwhile, if self-esteem decreases, here are 5 ways to rebuild it.

1. Understand yourself better

Sacinski recommends imagining that we have nothing. When we lose people closest to us, work falters, finances collapse, then what is left of ourselves.

From this image, a statement can emerge from within, 'whatever happens externally, and whatever is taken from me, I will not fall.'

Furthermore, Sacinski suggests knowing yourself including an understanding of what you can do, what needs to be improved, what mistakes are often made, to feelings that often hurt.

Illustration of how to increase self worth (Unsplash/Clay Banks)

2. Forgive yourself

After experiencing failure, loss, a person often blames himself. This will not drag on if you start to forgive yourself and accept what happened.

3. Love yourself

Ways to love yourself include committing to a positive spirit, expanding kindness, tolerance, and being generous.

4. Don't depend on other people

Not depending on others does not mean that other people are meaningless. But when you understand yourself, no matter how bad the events are, you still respect yourself.

5. Take responsibility for yourself

Taking responsibility for ourselves means acknowledging that we have the personal strength to deal with any situation as bad as it may be. Try to remind yourself of what you have learned from previous times.