Your self perception is a combination between how you think others see you and how you see yourself. The more it is based on how others see you, the less control you have since you will always be worried about what others are thinking – which you cannot control – and always guessing what they are thinking – which you cannot know for sure.
When your self perception draws on your value, you are able to ground your self perception in reality. Because reality is greater than anyone else’s theoretical perception of you, you take full control over what you believe about yourself.
Determining Your Value for Your Self Perception
Determining that you have value is the first step in shifting your self perception from outside influence to the more personal. This can be its own challenge depending on where you are starting from. Some people may already accept that they have value, but not everyone is at the point where they can incorporate that into their self perception.
Much of this is due to the need for understanding the specific aspects of yourself that define you and that you know you can feel confident about. In other words, you are answering the question of what, exactly, is your value?
Identifying what your self worth is will be beneficial for everyone. It can both help you realize that you have value and help make that value more concrete. There are multiple factors to your self worth and they can include:
- Your Achievements
- Your Relationships
- Your Talents
- Your Passions
- Your Career
Anywhere you feel that you make a positive difference, whether it be to you, your family and friends, or a larger population, comprises your value. Taking the time to name your self worth will make it more important than others perceptions and give you lasting self confidence, regardless of what other people think of you.
