Self-Worth Part 4: How Do I Raise My Level of Self-Worth?

Consider this a small introduction. We will be incorporating the concept of self-worth into the monthly themes over the next year—and forever, really—since it is an ever-evolving part of being human.

In my time with Nurse-Family Partnership, we held to the foundational belief that “The client is the expert on her own life.”

This is you. You are the expert. We are your vision holders.

Healing Emotions & Self-Worth

Let’s talk for a moment about how healing emotions and a level of high self-worth are related.

Unfortunately, at this point in human history, there is still a great deal of societal conditioning, generational trauma, limiting beliefs, harsh policies, poverty, injustice, misogyny, and racism. All of these shape the emotional landscape of a person—from the inherently worthy Soul we are born as, into the child and then adult we become—often carrying complex emotional wounding, physical symptoms, and low self-worth.

Self-worth is an infinite scale in both directions, and everyone is at their own unique place on the spectrum. Raising your level of self-worth is a highly individualized, inside job. Our previous blog addresses why you would want to go to the effort to do just that.

Low vs. High Self-Worth

A person with low self-worth will often:

• Allow their boundaries to be crossed

• Engage in people-pleasing behaviors

• Sacrifice their own well-being to keep the peace

• Use numbing behaviors to ease discomfort

This is not because they are lazy or broken, but because they do not believe themselves to be worthy of more. They may not understand why expending effort on their own care, healing, and emotional integration matters.

A person with high self-worth, on the other hand:

• Knows they deserve to be treated kindly and fairly

• Holds emotional boundaries in place

• Takes time for rest and nurtures their body

• Recognizes that caring for themselves is not selfish but necessary—and that it serves everyone around them

As I’ve stated in past blogs: Life wants you to care for yourself as much as you would care for your Most Beloved. Your Soul and Body know you are deserving of the utmost respect and love; it is the conditioned Mind that struggles to see past the wounding.

Ways to Raise Self-Worth

There are many good ways to heal emotions and raise self-worth. It isn’t about which one is “best” but about what resonates with you. There are modalities you can access alone and others that require help. Options range from pharmaceuticals and surgery, to long-term approaches like talk therapy, to instant shifts through energy medicine. Each has its place, connecting with those open to that method of healing.

That said, there are some basics all people share when raising self-worth:

• Saying NO when you need and want to say NO. This could be family, work, or community obligations that don’t light you up. Saying no opens space for what you do enjoy.

• Saying YES when your heart whispers YES—whether it’s food, rest, nature, art, movement, music, or play. Your Soul speaks through your desires.

• Feeding your Body with the healthiest food you can, and treating it as your companion, not your subordinate.

• Not sacrificing sleep. (Tough love here!)

• Following your joy. What lights you up? What feels peaceful, exciting, or satisfying? These are clues to your YES.

• Moving your Body in ways that feel good. Not what you “should” do, but what you genuinely enjoy and what makes your Body feel better afterward.

• Avoiding overscheduling. Too much on your plate feels unsafe to your nervous system.

• Not numbing with alcohol, drugs, TV, or social media. Numbing often masks emotions or dysregulation.

• Not people-pleasing at the expense of your own well-being. (Caregiving for small children is an exception, but otherwise, your care matters too.)

Signs of Rising Self-Worth

How do you know when you are valuing yourself more? You may notice:

• Less pain, fewer symptoms, and more rest

• A more peaceful mind with clearer thinking and less angst

• A greater ability to enjoy the present moment

• More time and spaciousness in your days—and the ability to enjoy that time

• A growing skill in discernment, making YES and NO easier to navigate

• More neutrality when reflecting on your past, seeing how hard moments shaped who you are today

• Appreciation for your younger selves and wisdom gained, knowing which mistakes you no longer need to repeat

Partnering in Your Healing

At Partnered Healing, we know you are the expert on your own life. We are here to support you as you discover and nurture this truth within yourself.

Stay tuned for September’s monthly theme: Acceptance.

✨ Please follow and share our social media and blog to continue learning about physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, nervous system regulation, and the path to Your Embodied Self.

Written by Jessica Cochran, BSN RN, Integrative Life Coach