Self-worth vs. Self-esteem

Close your eyes and imagine your body filled to the brim with breath.  Fruitful and overflowing with life-filling breath.  That is you.  That is the whole you.  

Our skin may get darker or lighter in nature’s seasons.  Our bellies may get softer or firmer in life’s seasons.  But you are, and forever will be, you.  You’ve seen the artwork of the older woman looking into a mirror and seeing her younger self.  It speaks to something deep within us.  Something that understands the concept of wholeness.  Science speaks of our atomic level, how we can’t be added to or subtracted.  We are, and always will be, whole.

Yoga speaks of self-worth.  Not self-esteem, that rises and falls with the tides.  But self-worth.  The idea that when you mess up at life, your wholeness has not been subtracted.  When you achieve at something in life, your wholeness has not been added to.   You are worthy at all times because you are, at all times, whole. 

Now life isn’t always rosey.  Our self-esteem takes hits when we mess up, or when life messes us up. Our self-esteem tanks when we are not on our true path.  And that sucks.  It hurts.  It aches.  But if you close your eyes and use your imagination, you know the truth.  Your wholeness is there.  The fruitful and overflowing you is there, surrounding you or flowing deep inside.  You cannot be subtracted.  Ever.

Whether you are on a high tide or on a low, you are - right now - worthy. 

Until next time,

Laura