Know and Acknowledge Your Value
We are all born with unique gifts that only we can bring to this world. It’s true! What one person brings to this world, another person cannot. Then as we journey through life, we learn skills, whether through formal education or through informal means such as life experiences, which can have just as much value as formal education. So we continue to add experience, knowledge, and wisdom. For those of us who like visual images, envision a quilt where each life experience is another shape or color that is added. Ultimately, we all end up with very different quilts that do not look like anyone else’s. That unique combination is valuable, lends a unique perspective only that person can bring, and is also very much needed in this world.
Now we can potentially go many ways from here. Maybe in the future we will pick on a few other directions that we don’t explore today. However, for this post, there are two ways that we are going to explore. The first is the value everyone brings to the world in honor of September being Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Thoughts such as, “People would be better off if I wasn’t here,” or “I am a waste of space,” can crop up in people’s minds, especially when they are in pain. These are words that feel true to some at the moment, and yet these words are not true because there are people who care, and the world would not be better off without them. Many people work in the world of suicide prevention because they truly believe that everyone matters. They would not work day in and day out if they didn’t believe. Other people may not directly work in the field of suicide prevention but contribute and advocate because they believe as well. Now let’s come back to the unique quilts. No one’s unique quilt can be replaced by anyone else. That means the unique perspective we each bring is needed here in this world. It has value because it cannot be replaced, and there is wisdom in each perspective we bring.
The second direction that this blog will acknowledge is how, whether unintentionally or intentionally, we undercut our value and forget to speak up when we know that we have something to offer. It is super easy to fall into this trap. We may be people-pleasing, thinking we are being humble or potentially don’t believe that we have value. There is a difference between humility, for example, and not speaking up. Being humble means that we know that we have value and choose, for various reasons, not to speak up. Not speaking up, in general, instead means we don’t see our value. There is a distinct difference! Those unique quits have specific talents and skills that only that quilt has, and they can contribute beautiful things to this world. Speaking up and advocating is essential!
In the end, remember that everyone has value, including you! Remind yourself of that and be there for others who may need that reminder. You may find that you improve your own life and maybe also save a life.
Neon lights saying - This is the Sign You’ve Been Looking For.
take action today moment:
If you are creatively inclined, consider drawing a picture of your quilt, or if you have quilting skills, make that quilt. Once it is completed, hang your art piece or quilt in a place you see as a reminder.
You can also do something similar through writing or even having a conversation with another person. Sometimes other people can help catch us when we start to undercut our value.