Taking account of what makes you valuable as a human being is a deeply personal and introspective process. It involves recognizing your inherent worth, identifying your unique strengths, and understanding the impact you have on the world around you. This is especially important at a time when you may be feeling undervalued due to financial struggles, job dissatisfaction, or societal pressures. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you reflect on and appreciate your value as a human being, while also empowering you to build on it.
1. Shift Your Mindset About Value
- Understand Inherent Worth: Your value as a human being is not determined by external factors like your job, income, appearance, or productivity. You are valuable simply because you exist. This is a fundamental truth, but it can be hard to internalize, especially in a society that often ties worth to achievement or status.
- Challenge Negative Self-Talk: If you find yourself thinking, “I’m not valuable because I’m broke” or “I’m not doing enough,” pause and question those thoughts. Ask yourself, “Would I judge a loved one this harshly? What would I tell them instead?”
- Focus on Impact, Not Metrics: Instead of measuring your value by external markers (e.g., money, job title), think about the ways you contribute to the lives of others, even in small ways. This could be through kindness, creativity, or resilience.
2. Reflect on Your Unique Strengths and Qualities
To understand what makes you valuable, start by taking stock of your unique attributes, experiences, and skills. Here are some exercises to guide you:
#### a. Make a List of Your Strengths
- Write down 5–10 things you’re good at, no matter how small they seem. These could include:
- Skills (e.g., problem-solving, organizing, communicating).
- Personality traits (e.g., compassion, determination, humor).
- Talents (e.g., writing, cooking, listening).
- If you’re struggling to identify strengths, ask yourself:
- What do others come to me for help with?
- What have I accomplished in the past, even if it feels minor?
- What do I enjoy doing, even if I’m not “perfect” at it?
- Your life experiences—especially challenges—add to your value because they shape who you are and what you can offer others. Consider:
- What hardships have I overcome (e.g., financial struggles, job loss, caregiving)? How have these experiences made me stronger or wiser?
- What lessons have I learned that I could share with others?
- How have my experiences given me empathy or perspective that others might not have?
- Example: If you’ve navigated financial hardship, you may have developed resilience, resourcefulness, and budgeting skills—valuable qualities that can inspire and help others. c. Identify Your Values
- Your values—what matters most to you—also contribute to your worth. Ask yourself:
- What principles guide my life (e.g., honesty, kindness, perseverance)?
- What causes or issues do I care deeply about (e.g., helping others, justice, creativity)?
- Living in alignment with your values enhances your sense of purpose and self-worth. d. Seek External Feedback
- Sometimes, it’s hard to see your own value. Ask trusted friends, family, or colleagues:
- What do you appreciate most about me?
- What strengths do you see in me?
- How have I made a positive impact on your life?
- Write down their responses and revisit them when you’re feeling down.
3. Recognize Your Impact on Others
Your value isn’t just about what you do for yourself—it’s also about how you touch the lives of others, often in ways you may not realize. Reflect on:
- Relationships: How do you show up for your family, friends, or community? Even small acts of kindness, like listening to a friend or helping a neighbor, add value to the world.
- Work: Even if you’re unhappy in your job, consider how your work contributes to others. For example, if you’re in a service role, you may be providing essential support to customers or colleagues.
- Community: Have you volunteered, mentored, or supported causes in your community? Even informal contributions—like offering advice or encouragement—matter. Exercise: Write down 3–5 ways you’ve positively impacted someone else’s life, no matter how small. Examples:
- “I helped my child with their homework, showing them patience and love.”
- “I made a coworker’s day better by listening to their frustrations.”
- “I shared a budgeting tip with a friend, helping them save money.”
4. Embrace Your Resilience
At 50, you’ve likely faced significant challenges—financial struggles, job dissatisfaction, societal pressures, and more. The fact that you’re still here, still seeking ways to grow and improve, is a testament to your resilience. This is a core part of your value. Reflect on:
- What challenges have I survived or overcome?
- How have I adapted to difficult circumstances?
- What strengths did I develop as a result (e.g., perseverance, problem-solving, empathy)? Example: If you’ve managed to keep going despite being “very broke,” you’ve likely developed mental toughness, resourcefulness, and creativity—qualities that are incredibly valuable, both to yourself and others.
5. Consider Your Potential to Grow
Your value isn’t static—it grows as you learn, evolve, and take on new challenges. At 50, you have decades ahead to continue adding to your worth. Ask yourself:
- What new skills or knowledge do I want to gain?
- How can I use my existing strengths to create a more fulfilling life?
- What legacy do I want to leave behind, whether through relationships, work, or community impact? Exercise: Write down one goal or dream you’d like to pursue, no matter how big or small. Then, list one small step you can take toward it. For example:
- Goal: “Start a side hustle doing something I love.”
- Step: “Spend 15 minutes researching side hustle ideas online this week.”
6. Reframe Your Struggles as Assets
It’s easy to see financial struggles or job dissatisfaction as signs of failure, but they can also be sources of value. For example:
- Financial Struggles: These teach you resilience, resourcefulness, and empathy for others in similar situations. You may be able to help others by sharing your knowledge or experiences.
- Job Unhappiness: This can be a catalyst for change, pushing you to clarify what you truly value and pursue a path that aligns with your strengths and passions.
- Age: At 50, you bring a wealth of life experience, maturity, and perspective that younger people may not have. This is a valuable asset in relationships, work, and community roles. Exercise: For each struggle you’re facing, write down one way it has made you stronger or more valuable. Example:
- Struggle: “I’m broke and struggling financially.”
- Value: “I’ve learned to be resourceful, budget effectively, and empathize with others in similar situations.”
7. Create a “Value Statement”
To solidify your understanding of your worth, write a personal value statement. This is a short paragraph summarizing what makes you valuable as a human being, based on your reflections above. Here’s an example:
“I am valuable because I bring resilience, empathy, and determination to everything I do. My experiences with financial hardship have taught me resourcefulness and compassion, which I use to support others. I am a caring friend, a skilled problem-solver, and a person who strives to live with integrity. Even in tough times, I continue to grow, learn, and contribute to the world around me.”
Write your own statement, and keep it somewhere you can revisit it when you’re feeling down.
8. Practice Self-Compassion
Recognizing your value doesn’t mean you have to be perfect or have everything figured out. It’s about appreciating yourself as you are, while also embracing your potential to grow. Practice self-compassion by:
- Speaking to yourself as you would a dear friend. For example, if you’re feeling worthless, say, “I’m doing the best I can, and that’s enough.”
- Celebrating small wins, like completing a task or showing kindness to someone.
- Forgiving yourself for past mistakes—they are part of what has shaped you into the valuable person you are today.
9. Use Your Value to Empower Others
One of the most powerful ways to reinforce your own sense of worth is to help others. By sharing your strengths, experiences, and lessons, you not only affirm your value but also make a positive impact. Consider:
- Mentoring someone younger or less experienced.
- Sharing practical tips (e.g., budgeting, job searching) with others in similar situations.
- Volunteering in your community, even in small ways. Example: If you’ve learned how to stretch a tight budget, you could create a simple guide or share your tips with a friend, reinforcing your value as a resourceful and helpful person.
10. Revisit and Update Regularly
Your sense of value will evolve as you grow, learn, and face new challenges. Make it a habit to revisit this process every few months or whenever you’re feeling down. Ask yourself:
- What new strengths have I developed?
- How have I made a difference in someone’s life recently?
- What am I proud of, even if it’s small?
A Final Thought
Taking account of your value as a human being is not a one-time exercise—it’s a lifelong practice. At 50, you have a wealth of experiences, strengths, and potential to draw from, even if external circumstances like finances or job dissatisfaction make it hard to see. By focusing on your inherent worth, unique qualities, and impact on others, you can build a stronger sense of self-worth and use it as a foundation to create a more fulfilling life.
If you’d like help with specific exercises, such as creating a strengths list, writing your value statement, or setting goals to build on your value, just let me know—I’m here to help!