A gentle invitation to explore worth beyond work and wealth, going deeper into what it means without the cultural lens that you sit behind. The one determined by your place in the world, physically, metaphorically, familiarily etc.
In a previous piece, I reflected on how so many of us have internalised the idea that our worth is tied to our salary, title, or how busy we are. (If you missed it, you can read it here: Value & Worth Are Not Pay) A lot has changed in my life since I wrote it in 2021, but these changes have been propelled into motions partly due to the thinking that the blog explores. I was frustrated and felt stuck by so many of the constraints and value systems that we seemingly inherit from our family, peers or society.
But once I started to question that connection, once we loosen the grip of external metrics a new question quietly emerged:
If my worth isn’t based on what I earn… what is it based on?
This is where the honest exploration begins for me and maybe for you too. If this is piquing your interest, then this is where I meet you today — in that curious space between unlearning and remembering.
Reframing the Questions We Ask Ourselves
We’ve been taught to ask:
- What do you do?
- How much do you earn?
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What have you achieved lately?
But what if we asked softer, deeper questions instead? Questions like:
- What brings me peace?
- Where do I feel most like myself?
What kind of impact do I want to have, not just in work but in life?
These questions won’t show up on a CV or performance review. But they tell us far more about who we are — and what we’re here to give and receive.
An Invitation to Pause and Reflect
Here are a few reflections you might carry with you this week. You don’t need to answer all of them. Choose one that resonates. Or sit with the questions and let your body respond in its own time.
- What fills you up that doesn’t involve being paid, praised, or promoted?
- When was the last time you did something just because you loved it?
- Are there things you’ve stopped doing because they didn’t seem “productive” or “worthwhile”?
- What does “success” look like on your own terms?
- If no one else ever saw your efforts, what would still feel worthwhile to you?
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How do you want your days to feel, not just what you want to achieve?
- Who are you when the world is quiet?
- Away from your job, your inbox, your responsibilities, what remains?
- What does that version of you long for?
- What would it feel like to stop proving and start honouring?
- Where are you still trying to prove your worth?
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And what would shift if you chose to honour your worth instead?
A Reminder You Might Need Today
- You don’t need to earn your worth.
- You don’t need to justify your passions.
- You don’t need to measure your value in productivity.
- You are already worthy, not because of what you do, but because of who you are.
Gentle Ways to Explore This Further
If this theme resonates with you, you might want to:
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Revisit the original post: Value & Worth Are Not Pay
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Spend time with this Journaling Guide on Redefining Your Worth
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Take a walk and let one of these questions accompany you
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Or simply notice, throughout the week, when you feel most aligned and least attached to outcome
You Have Time
There is no rush to rewrite your relationship with worth. This is a lifelong practice. And the beautiful thing about practice is that it invites return, again and again.
Come back to yourself gently. Notice what already feels meaningful. Give yourself permission to value that, deeply and without apology.
