The Journey of Self-Worth - 11 Habits for Feeling Good Within Yourself

Self-worth is a topic worth discussing.

The lack of self-worth (self-esteem) leads to self-hatred, unhappiness and despair. Therefore, this means that mastering the journey of self-worth is crucial. Some people learn about self-worth naturally through their life experiences. Others struggle to feel a sense of self-worth.

Self-worth could be defined as:

“ The feeling that you have good qualities and have achieved good things”

What is self-worth?

As a concept, self-worth is highly subjective as it is based on feeling good within yourself. Hill (2015) found that self-esteem was linked with higher subjective happiness scores and overall life satisfaction. Whereas, Judge et al (2001) demonstrated that higher high levels of self-esteem in employees predicted their job satisfaction and improved work performance.

Research is clear – A person needs a sense of self-worth to be content in life. In this post, I will be discussing 11 habits that you should adopt for feeling good within yourself. Through simple practice of these habits, you will master your journey towards self-worth.

 1. Accept critique, don’t take things personally

The key to maturation is not taking things personally. It’s difficult to learn from mistakes or poor behaviours when you are not aware of them. You should accept critique and use it for bettering your own character. Remember that there is a difference between critique and criticism – one is a careful judgment, another is more like a disapproving attack. 

2. Compare yourself with your past self

The only person you should compare yourself with is your past self. When you are feeling worthless think about what you have achieved. How do you compare with your past self? Have you improved, grown, learned new things? Live your own life, do not let the rosy lives of other people let you down. 

3. Accept responsibility and learn from your mistakes

The key person that is responsible for your life, how you behave and how you feel is YOU. Learn to remember that you are an active agent in control of your life. Learn from your mistakes and be a better person. Accepting responsibility is a facet of empowerment. 

4. Dedicate life for self-improvement

Dedicate life for self-improvement. Whether it’s education, reading books, watching documentaries or trying a creative hobby. The more you learn – the more you grow and the more you grow - the more worth you feel. 

5. Do something about your problems

This one comes from my own experience. Nothing will ever improve if you fail to do anything about
your problems. Instead of complaining about how you feel – do something different. Whether it’s mentioning to your friend or doctor about your mental health, taking yourself away from a negative environment or keeping yourself busy. Do something about your problems do not let them control you.

6. Observe your body language

To have a sense of self-worth you need to behave like a powerful person. If you don’t feel any sense of power, start from pretending. Head up, shoulders back, smile. Presenting yourself to others as a ball of shame does not help. Believe in yourself and the good things will come from there. 

7. Take care of your physical health

Take care of your physical health – whether it’s walking more, taking the stairs instead of the lift or seeing your health professionals when you need to. Have enough sleep, do not force yourself to work when you don’t feel a 100%. Your physical health is closely related to your mental health. Jade Marie has written a fantastic post about practicing self-care on low energy days, go check it out!

8.  Live in the present moment

Live in the present moment, pay attention to your senses. You can’t turn back the time, unfortunately, real life is not like Back in The Future. Do not worry about what-ifs, do what you love in the present.

9.  Restructure your negative thoughts

This one needs its own separate post. I learned about cognitive restructuring in a group CBT session. You need to fight your negative thoughts with alternatives. Reconstructing your perception of self and life is super important for self-worth. Notice when your negative thoughts lack accuracy.

10.  Express daily gratitude

Spend a few minutes each day expressing gratitude. You could do it in your head or keep a fancy gratitude journal. What are you grateful for?

11. Learn to truly be yourself

No one is ever truly ‘good’. People are complex and full of flaws. You should learn to accept yourself. It is through acceptance that we learn to feel whole. Life is not black and white, people are not either.

Here are the 11 habits that you should follow for feeling good within yourself and mastering the complex journey of self-worth. Do you have any tips for improving one’s sense of self-worth? I wish you all the best, keep your head up.