Building Your Self Worth in 5 Simple Steps

     Learning to know who you are is one thing.  Valuing your individuality and standing up for yourself is something entirely different. While the first is an exercise in quietly understanding yourself, the second requires confident action, sometimes in the face of those who adamantly disagree or who want an entirely different outcome. To learn how to live confidently in accordance with your values, you must start building your self-worth.

     When you remember how worthy you are of the life you want to live, then it is easier to act to make sure your ideas align with the life you are living.
Of course, building self-worth takes time. It is not an overnight project or something you can check off your list as “done”. Yet, despite the effort it requires, learning how to increase your self-worth is a task we should all embark on. When you start truly valuing yourself, you start living the life you really want — and the world needs more people who genuinely enjoy living.
Below are five ways you can start building your self-worth. While every day might not be perfect, celebrate your wins, no matter how small, every time you get them!

     1.  Keep Daily Promises to Yourself. Each night before you go to bed, write down what you want to accomplish the next day. They can be big or small. These things can be things you would normally write on your to-do list, but they can also be smaller things, like calling a friend or returning an email. Whatever you choose to write down, keep these promises the next day. The more you practice doing what you said you would do, the more your self-worth will grow.

     2.  Say No to Things You Do Not Want to Do. We all have obligations, but we do not have to say yes to everything all the time, even when we feel like we should. It is a good exercise to start saying no to things you do not actually want to do. And, when you do, practice being honest. You do not need a big excuse to stand your ground and protect your time and energy.

     3.  Speak Your Truth. We all too often say things to spare feelings, or sometimes we do not say anything at all. Learning how to speak your truth takes time, but it is one of the most important ways to start building your self-worth. Remember, speaking the truth is not the same as knowingly hurting someone with your words. The truth should always be simple and straightforward with no ulterior motives. It should raise you up without bringing others down.

     4.  Practice Healthy Boundaries. Boundaries are necessary for your self-worth because they ensure that your values are being honored. The key to having healthy boundaries is communicating them with others, including why you need them. Once you set a boundary, whether with yourself or others, do what you can to continue to support that boundary. If you start allowing your boundaries to be pushed or crossed occasionally, then they will fail to exist down the road.

     5.  Express Your Needs and Communicate Expectations. Again, communication is a cornerstone of self-worth. Every day find ways that you can calmly and confidently discuss your needs with those around you. As you do, let them know what you expect of them so that they are clear about your needs. The people who love and care about you want to meet your needs, so expressing them is a huge step towards owning your true value.