Cultivating Self - Worth Within Our Culture and Society

In all countries, cultures and societies we find people who feel unsure of themselves or are lost and confused about their place in the world.

If we were to put a psychological diagnosis on such a person and state of being, we might say that they suffer from free floating anxiety or some kind of other personality or emotional disorder.

Many times we have many things in our life to build a strong and balanced life around but internal and external forces that are at times both subtle and overt keep us from seeing this.

This writer has met and visited with strong and balanced, and unfocused and unsure individuals and families in China, Taiwan, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Japan, Hungary and The United States.

The fact that people can experience a low self - worth or a confused self - worth is a worldwide phenomenon and the idea that one culture or ethnic group is somehow above such a state is not accurate.

In order to cultivate a positive self - worth, regardless of where we live, there are some things that we can do.

One is to take a good look at the many things that we have in our life that are wholesome and positive. Too many times we unwisely compare ourselves to others and what we think that they have, losing mindfulness of the many fine things that we do have.

Another is to understand that the leisure time that we have can be used in more positive and wholesome ways then the we may be using it at present.

One of my memories of living in the U.S. was that many people used their free time to watch television and get high through the use of drugs or drinking.

We can learn more about ourselves and treat ourselves better in both the short and long - term if we use some of our free time reading, engaging in some sort of exercise and practicing Yoga and meditation.

Another thing we can do is to see how we can use the freedoms, opportunities and skills that we have at present as a foundation for cultivating something new in our life in the future.

We can go to school or work to learn and cultivate a new mindfulness and skill at our present job.

If we practice Yoga or meditation many of us will be more likely to be able to do such a thing, as these practices make us stronger, more balanced and more focused.

Another thing that we can do in order to cultivate greater self - worth is to be mindful about what kind of people and situations we expose ourselves to.

There are a lot of people in the world, many times including our own spouse or parents who can be very negative about others and the world and being exposed to such people will not help us find our own strong and balanced way.

In addition, being around people with such attitudes may lead to situations where there is anger, defiance and conflict.

Too many times when we make a commitment to one person, we may be unwittingly getting ourselves involved with how they see the world and how that may differ from how we see it or how we want to interact and connect with others.

In cultivating a greater or healthier self - worth, we may also need to get away from or lessen the impact the incessant advertisements that we are exposed to each day through visual, audio and print media.

We do not have to have the newest car, or biggest house or latest fashions to be more of a human being.

We do not have to be a member of certain club or attend a certain university either.

We do not have to live in a certain area of town or know this and that person.

What we need to do is know ourselves and make and strengthen that connection with ourselves.

It is knowledge of oneself that brings about a wholesome self - worth and many times success in life should not be measured by what we achieve but instead by what we overcome.

If we can overcome anxiety and a negative self - worth and turn it intro something positive, we may be engaging in one of the greatest achievements and successes in our life.

2005 John C. Kimbrough (February 26th, 2005)