Self-worth is a State of the Mind — T.G. L. Iyer

Henry Davis Thoreau, an American poet and writer once stated: ‘What a man thinks of himself determines and indicates his fate’.

It is not possible to lift Self any person to a higher level than he is willing to lift himself. True self-worth stems from within oneself. When we are focused and inspired, neither praise nor reprimand can deficit us off our course.

Matigari was a freedom-fighter in Africa who was dismayed by the corruption, fear and misery of his people. However, he never despaired. When others questioned him whether there would be any change to reestablish human worth he said, “The true seeker of truth never loses hope. The true seeker of justice never tries. A farmer does not stop planting seeds just because of the failure of one crop. Success is born of trying and trying again. Truth must seek justice; justice must seek truth. When justice triumphs, truth will reign on Earth.”

Most of us bind ourselves in prisons we ourselves build for ourselves. We accept the false premise that we are incarcerated for life. As soon as that belief starts taking hold of us, we abandon hope of ever doing anything more with our lives and giving our dreams a chance to be fulfilled.

While each one of us is different and unique in our makeup, habit and culture, our lack of self-esteem which produces failure is a sickness always originating from the complex of anxiety, guilt or inferiority. Instead of snuffing out or pressing these emotions, if we can turn them around and transform them, we would be happier persons looking at the world in a positive way.

Our worlds are really small. They consist of few places, work, play, a small family and absence of peace of mind for self-created reasons. Our mission should be to go and do what God wants us to do.

Happiness does not mean simply getting what you want; it is about wanting what you have got. If you have a trace of self-worth it should be nourished and grown instead of erasing it to become miserable. People of self-worth remain stable both in the heat and in the cold; in fortune and in misfortune, in happiness and in sadness; in sunrise and in sunset!