Self-worth in a ego-driven and judgemental world?
Looking outside of ourselves for self-definition and self-worth means that we have to judge people in order to feel good about ourselves. In this ego-driven and judgemental world, we were taught to have ego-strength through judgment of others; such as better than, prettier than, smarter than, richer than, stronger than, etc. In a co-dependent society everyone has to have someone to look down on in order to feel positive about himself or herself. This is the root of all bigotry, racism, sexism, and prejudice in the world. Real self-worth does not come from looking down on anyone or even anything. True self-worth comes from awakening to our connection to everyone and everything that we are surrounded by.
To better understand self-worth, we need to know the difference between ego and self-esteem. Egotists are essentially insecure people who are attempting to cover up their own suspicion that they are not quite as good as other people by pretending that they are more important. People with very high levels of self-esteem do not need to determine their self-worth by comparing themselves, either publicly or in their own minds, with others.
An egotistical person’s sense of self-worth is mostly determined by external conditions, circumstances or events. They promote themselves so that they can be convinced of their own value by the feedback they receive from peers, fans, voters, employees or even their own children. They often strive to be high achievers because they can then get the acclaim of others, in the hope that this acclaim will somehow prove their worth; though it seldom erases the suspicion that they are unworthy.
A self-esteemed person’s sense of self-worth is mostly determined by internal conditions like attitude, compassion, belief, passion and personal vision. They also tend to have a direct sense of their relationship with divinity, that teaches that all things, including you, are sacred and worthy of being honored as such.
Moral: Increase your self-worth by awakening yourself and building on your inner self-esteem, and not by just accumalating more external wealth which only serves to fortify your already bloated ego.
