Self-worth.
Our sense of self-worth shapes how we see ourselves,
How we relate to others,
And how we move through the world.
Self-worth is layered because on the surface level our feelings of worthiness can rise and fall with the circumstances of life.
We experience rejection,
We make a mistake,
We feel judgment from others and ourselves.
Those feelings are real and they're part of being human and yet there is a deeper level of worth.
Sometimes our sense of worth is wounded by harmful words or actions,
Especially when we are young and vulnerable.
And yet beneath all of that our worth is inherent.
It isn't something we earn through success or approval.
It comes from simply being human,
From being alive.
One way to understand this is to imagine the Sun and the clouds.
The Sun is always shining but the clouds sometimes pass in front of it.
Our inherent worth is the Sun.
It is steady,
It is always there.
When the clouds feel thick,
The most powerful response is not self-criticism or pressure.
It is self-compassion.
The simple act of meeting ourselves with kindness.
So I invite you to take a few moments with me now to practice this.
Getting comfortable whether you're seated or lying down and start to follow your breath as it moves in and out of the body.
Let that breath deepen.
Feel the rise of your chest,
Your belly soft.
Just allow your body to settle wherever you are.
You might close your eyes if that feels good.
And as you take this next breath,
Bring your awareness to the center of your chest,
Your heart center.
Notice the quiet rise and fall of your breath.
Nothing to fix right now,
Nothing to solve.
Just allow yourself to arrive in this moment.
Breathing in and breathing out.
You might notice areas of your life where you've been hard on yourself.
A mistake,
A disappointment,
Something you wish you hadn't done,
Something you wish had gone differently.
If something comes to mind,
Just simply acknowledge it.
No judgment.
Just simply noticing.
Take another slow breath in.
Silently say to yourself,
This is a moment of being human.
Let those words land within your body.
All of us experience struggle.
All of us have moments when we doubt ourselves.
Let's take another breath.
Now offer yourself this simple phrase,
May I be kind to myself.
May I be kind to myself.
Sit with these words for a moment.
You might place your hand back over your heart.
Feeling the warmth of your hand,
The quiet rhythm of your breath.
And again,
May I be kind to myself.
Breathing in,
Compassion.
Breathing out.
Softening those places that feel tight or heavy.
Take another breath here.
Remind yourself,
My worth is here.
Even when I forget.
Even when life feels difficult.
Let your breath move through the body.
Feeling the nervous system settle.
Letting kindness spread through your chest,
Your shoulders,
Your belly.
Rest in this breath.
Pause.
Remember,
Compassion doesn't mean we ignore our struggles.
It simply means we meet them with care,
Not judgment.
And each time we do that,
The clouds begin to thin.
So the quiet warmth of our inherent worth can shine through.
Take another nice,
Slow,
Deep breath in.
And let it go.
When you're ready,
Start to come back.
Maybe wiggling your fingers and toes.
Carry this practice with you.
Breathe.
Pause.
Meet yourself with compassion.
Knowing that every passing cloud that arrives,
Your worth is always here.
Be well.
