Member-only story
To Receive Is To Know Your Value
Ratchet up your self-worth, ladies!
We teach people how to treat us- I’ve loved that statement since the first time I heard it. But wow, was it ever a challenge to put into practice!
Something I didn’t understand about self-worth for a long time is how important it is to be able to receive. Us women are great at being giving and doing for others, whether it’s out of love or responsibility or even because we are already up off the couch and it’s no big deal!
But receiving without residual guilt? That’s another matter.
For instance, I used to get feel guilty when I asked my boyfriend or children to get me something that I could totally get myself, like a glass of water or coffee. Something bigger like cooking a meal on the regular? Forget it, that was just not done. Good moms and wives and girlfriends do those things for their loved ones.
Now my sense of self-worth seems to ratchet up every time I’m willing to receive without qualification, but it wasn’t always that way. Even with the little stuff- or maybe especially because of the little stuff, I’d always feel like it showed that I was a good woman to ‘do’ and ‘be’ for others.
Yes, I’m perfectly capable of getting my own drink, and of course I’ll get you one while I’m up!