Self-Worth.

[greenstorm]

I'm not sure how to know if I'm worth something. Some people say this, some people say that -- I can't gauge it on what a person says, not a single person certainly (codependency of some sort?) and not a group of people. It's all a perspective thing, and I want an absolute answer. Poor me. ;P

Comments

[echo2oak.livejournal.com]

Worth is a sort of two edged sword, I think, because it is not just a matter of how others see me but also how I see myself. It's a combination of individual and community perception.

A person with great self worth might still feel isolated if the community doesn't reflect that back. On the other hand, if the community finds the person worthwhile, but the individual does not, then the person will still feel isolated.

Communities are attracted to the charismatic because they apparently have good self worth, but the person still may crave the attention community offers, so the relationship strengthens with each positive encounter.

On the other hand, if a person apparently has a strong sense of worth, works for the community, and still receives no recognition, the person might become discouraged and their self worth lessens within their own eyes.

I guess what I'm driving at is that I have been often mistaken for someone of great self worth, yet I need a sense of community, of belonging, and when I've asked for that from my community, my apparent worth seems to falter.