See Value IN Yourself to Add Value TO Yourself

I love this picture! That kitten doesn’t seem to have a problem with his self-image, does he? It’s a great illustration of the concept of self image. What do we see when we look in the mirror? What image of ourselves do we see looking back at us? As I get older, I’m noticing that I recognize the person looking back at me in the mirror less and less. I sometimes wonder, “Who’s that old guy looking back at me?” If you’re over, say 40 or so, you get what I’m talking about. But that’s not what this post is about. We’re talking about personal growth and the reality is that you need to see value in yourself before you’ll be willing to add value to yourself.

Unless your a narcissist or some kind of crazy, you’re susceptible to “impostor syndrome,” especially if you’re a high achiever or have big dreams. Impostor syndrome is that form of self-doubt that worries about being “whatever-enough” for the job or the dream. Every Lion looks in the mirror and sees a kitten from time to time. But, if that’s your constant state, that will prevent your personal growth.

What’s Your Value?

I’m not talking about your financial net worth. I’m asking, “What value do you see in yourself?” That’s important because you will not give yourself the opportunity to grow if you think you are not worthy of it because if you don’t believe in yourself, you won’t bet on yourself.

Your sense of personal value becomes a self-fulling prophecy in the sense that others will begin to see you the way you see yourself. Leadership coach John Maxwell said, “If you place a small value on yourself, rest assured the world will not raise the price.” If you don’t allow yourself to expand and grow, if you don’t invest in yourself, remaining where you are for a long period of time, others will take note and place the same value on you as you’ve placed on yourself.

Value is defined as, “the regard (high opinion, liking and respect, esteem) that something/someone is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something/someone.” With that definition in mind, what “regard, importance, worth, or usefulness” do you see in yourself? Let me tell you something. Unless you’re that narcissist I mentioned earlier, you’re worth way more than you think.

How to Reset Your Value

I’m a person of faith so the first place I look to determine anyone’s value is to the Bible. According to the first book of the Bible (Genesis), we are all created in God’s image. The rest of the Bible talks about how much God loves us and the extent he’s gone to redeem us. God places extreme value on each of us. Who am I to argue with God?! You have great value.

Even if you’re not a person of faith, you can change the image you see when you look in the mirror. Here are a couple ways to do that.

1. Watch your Self-Talk – We tend to listen to and believe ourselves more than anyone else. What we say to ourselves, we believe. How we believe determines what we do, and what we do we tend to become. No one ever set a world record who said, “I can’t do this.”
2. Add Value to Others – When we give to someone else by helping them grow and develop it creates space in us for growth
3. Do the Right Thing even if it’s the Hard Thing – This discipline will go a long way in resetting your sense of character.
4. Practice a One Word strategy – Pick a character quality or skill you’d like to develop and make it your one word for the month. Put it in a prominent place where you’ll see it daily and spend time each day focusing on that word and how it will be seen in your life.
5. Remember the Rest of Your Story is Unwritten – Remember, the story of your life is an epic novel. The next chapter, let alone the ending, is not yet written. Become the author of your own story.

You are a person of value. It’s time to start betting on yourself.