By Kaitlynn Christiansen
Our relationships with ourselves are often the most complicated relationships we will experience in our lives. They will define how we live life, how our marriage will be, and even how we parent our children. The importance of discovering and understanding our self worth is a necessary step. Not only will it bring you peace and allow you to live life to the fullest, it will also enable you to be a great teacher to your children.
The gospel teaches many truths about the importance of knowing your worth. God wants us to understand who we are and what we are capable of becoming.
What is Self-worth?
Self-worth is the knowledge of who you truly are and who you are capable of becoming. In society, it can be difficult to distinguish between those who know their true worth and those who are prideful. James E. Faust said, “After a lifetime of observing, I have found the greatest respect is owed not necessarily to the rich, or the famous, but to the quiet, unsung, unknown heroes whose true identity, like the unknown soldier’s, is known only to God. The unsung often have little of status, but much of worth.” Self worth does not need to boast and show off. If our self-worth is coming from God, it comes from the peace of being secure in who we are and humbly going about our lives.
Our worth comes from our royal lineage. We are each children of Heavenly Parents. Each one of us is known and loved by God. We are each unique and created by His hand. This truth is the reason why it is so damaging to compare ourselves to one another. Every person is a combination of their own gifts and talents.
How Do We Recognize Our Self-worth?
Get to know the one who created you:
- “Remember, the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” You matter to God.
- Strengthening your relationship with Him through prayer and scripture study will bring a deeper understanding of yourself.
Recognize our God-given talents:
- Another way we can come to recognize our self-worth is by being grateful for the talents we have been given and using them to help uplift and edify others. We each have the chance to use our talents to better the world.
Benefits of Knowing Your Self-worth
Recognizing our self-worth can lead to so much peace of mind and the ability to live a more fulfilling, purposeful life. James E. Faust said, “Self-esteem is the glue that holds together our self-reliance, our self-control, our self-approval or disapproval, and keeps all self-defense mechanisms secure. It is a protection against excessive self-deception, self-distrust, self-reproach, and plain old-fashion selfishness.” If we truly believe that we are children of the creator, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard. It will inspire us to take care of ourselves and strive to be the best we can be.
How Will Recognizing Our Self-worth Help Us Be Better Parents?
When we know who our Heavenly Father is and all that He can do, we want our children to know Him and know that they are loved by Him. When children have parents who know where they came from and what their purpose is, the children are more likely to know those same truths. One of the duties we have as parents is to teach our children their divine heritage. When you have a testimony of your own worth, you can have those conversations with your children. If you still struggle with knowing your self-worth, you can share what you are learning about yourself with your children. Communicate and bring them on the journey with you.
The world is so intent on making sure that children do not know and understand their divine worth. As parents, we must combat that with the truths that Heavenly Father has shared with us. We are gloriously made and are capable of more than we can ever dream of.
For more ideas on how to teach your kids about all the ways Heavenly Father has blessed us, check out our book The Powers of Heaven.
Kaitlynn Christiansen is an elementary teacher who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Marriage and Family Studies from Brigham Young University-Idaho. She loves to learn and is passionate about educating families about healthy relationships.
Citations
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (n.d.). Doctrine and Covenants 18. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/18?lang=eng
Faust, J. E. (2021, March 15). Self-esteem: A Great Human Need. BYU Speeches. https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/james-e-faust/self-esteem-great-human-need/
Samuelson, S. G. (2021, March 15). A Place Within His Heart. BYU Speeches. https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/sharon-g-samuelson/place-within-heart/
Your Worth Is Beyond Measure!
“God is your Father. He loves you. He and your Mother in heaven value you beyond any measure. … You are unique. One of a kind, made of the eternal intelligence which gives you claim upon eternal life.
Let there be no question in your mind about your value as an individual.”—Spencer W. Kimball
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