We were all born worthy.
But some where along the way, we began to doubt our worth; we began to question our value and move through life in what Tara Brach calls, the “trance of unworthiness.”
We doze off into the trance when we let circumstances alter our self-perceptions.
In the trance, our mind dreams up thoughts of unworthiness that cause us to feel negatively toward ourselves; we begin to resist risking, react in defense, and avoid our life, and ourselves.
We might have small flutters of consciousness, but still we stumble along carrying our fragile self-worth into our relationships, our work, and lives.
Walking through life in the trance can cause us to settle into a job, environment, or relationship that is not fulfilling, rewarding, and painfully, keeps us asleep; that this-is-as-good-as-it-gets trance that feels more like a nightmare.
Waking Up From The Trance
It took me years to wake up from the trance and realize my worth.
Instead of excitement, I stumbled around anxious and afraid.
When I’d gather up a smidgen of courage to nudge myself awake, self-doubt would rock me back to sleep.
My lack of self-worth blanketed my intimate relationships, my career choices, and my life.
If someone was attracted to me, I stumbled into their dreams grateful that they chose me.
I chose the path of least resistance to avoid slipping deeper into the trance; I opted for what couldn’t fail in hopes of waking up in time.
Repeatedly, I fell back into the trance of believing that I deserved to suffer and was unworthy of anything more.
Awakening To Our Worth
Realizing our self-worth involves waking up from the trance by falling in love with ourselves.
It’s awakening to our worth, owning that we’re enough, and embracing every ounce of us with loving kindness and self-compassion.
A few years ago, I read Kimber Simpkin’s touching memoir, Full.
In the book Kimber shares her journey of healing, which includes learning to love herself.
I remember clearly Kimber’s description of warming sesame oil and lathering it all over her body every evening; I recall gasping, “Touch my body in a loving way?”
Well, I did; only, I added some lavender and orange oil to my amazing self-love potion.
Nurturing my body with oils every day was a small, yet huge first step to loving me and honoring my worth.
Today, my self-love regimen includes several other nurturing activities, such as yoga, monthly massages, plenty of sleep, wholesome clean food, and selecting to invite loving, authentic, compassionate relationships only into my life.
I also talk to myself kindly, move my body gently, and listen to what my mind, body, and spirit need on a regularly basis; I no longer neglect myself and accept all of me whole-heartedly.
Gaining a Sense of Self-Worth will shake you awake from the trance of unworthiness; it will awaken you to your life, and open your eyes to you.
So give yourself permission to awaken your self-worth today, simply with ease, and before ever slipping into the trance of unworthiness again, remember…
You were born worthy, period.
Sending you inspiration,
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