Self-inquiry/self-worth/Jody

[Guest guest]

Thanks for adding your thoughts to this subject, Jody. I’m participating

with a local group exploring the significance of self worth to the experience

of self-realization and peer communication. Actually the issue of self worth

seems more applicable in face-to-face dialog than online for a variety of

reasons. But I was interested in the thoughts of list members on this topic.

Self worth, as seen now, covered a variety of reasons for my moving from

a problematic, conventional life style to one offering greater

freedom. Spontaneity, creativity, and flexibility are some of those

reasons. I might

add feeling inner harmony or just feeling warm and more open to others.

I didn’t see “spirituality” as a goal in those days

and still don’t care for the

term, although I use it online from time to time.

I can’t say my practice lowered my sense of self worth; it was always the

attachments to the old ways that brought me down. While some of those

attachments have been released, there is still residue. So the term ‘self worth’

is still useful in understanding my self. It also resonates with Maslow’s hierarchy

of needs in being the platform for reaching self-realization.

Though I don’t consider a downside feeling of self worth a blessing or a curse,

neither is the upside. Somewhere in between is a “place” I visit more and more

where no judgment arises.

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******Jody wrote

Many are drawn to spirituality as a way to develop a sense ofself-worth. I know I was.

Instead of getting my self worth from it, it pushed me intoself

degradation. I came to lose every bit of self worth inmy mind's

obsession with my faults, foibles and peccadillos.

However, this was the blessing of my life. As I had nothing tohold on

to that was valuable as a self image it lost much of itspower over

identity in my life.

True self worth comes from knowing who you really are. All otherself

worth is really just the other side of self degradation. To have self

worth entails being a self instead of the Self,and to have self hatred

entails exactly the same thing.

It's not wrong to have self worth but it's not very helpfulto hold on to it.

> Ultimately, it can be said, that everyone, everything is worthy and>

beyond comparison. But the issue of self-worth lingers steadfastly>

with every human being to be challenged by the sudden twists and>

turns of daily living. Unexpectedly we can be drawn into the drama>

of life, acting in ways that bring our sense of self-worth into>

question. Angels, we are not. Speaking for myself, of course. :-)