There's a mirror that frequents the corners of our mind and our heart—a reflective surface in which we often perceive ourselves. Sometimes, when we gaze into this mirror, our self-worth appears diminished—not by the judgment of others, but by our own critical selves. And this is where the transformative wake-up call lies: Only “you,” yes, “you”, can set the metrics for defining your self-worth.

Imagine being universally acknowledged or exceedingly praised for your achievements, yet somehow, you still feel incomplete, insignificant, and unaccomplished. Sound familiar? That's because we've all been there. We've let external views seep in, indifferent to the only perspective that truly matters—our own.

I remember, years ago, sitting in a gloomy corner, questioning my worth after my first failed business venture. On one hand, there was roaring applause from my peers applauding my ‘bravery' for merely attempting such a venture, and on the other, there was me—weighed down by disappointment and self-worth scraping the floor. The world's assessment was irrelevant. It was my self-evaluation that shaped my world. My worth, thus, stood depleted—not by someone else's standards, but sadly, by mine. Much like you may feel today.

Consider this: what if the Beatles had bound their worth to the rejection they faced from Decca Recording Studios, who thought they had “no future in show business”? Or if Thomas Edison had bound his worth to his numerous failures before inventing the light bulb? Their paths to success would have been entirely different. They did not allow external factors to cloud their self-evaluation. They set their own metrics of success and self-worth.

Our path too should be the one we carve for ourselves.

It's not an easy task to redefine your worth. It takes courage, conviction, and a steadfast belief in oneself. It demands us to break away from social constructs that may belittle our sense of value. Doing so isn't about being oblivious to the world but realizing the foundational truth that our worth isn't for someone else to influence or dictate.

There's a reason my LMA course accentuates the power of self-belief. It's designed to fuel faith in your intrinsic worth, potentially transforming your perception of yourself and empowering you to accomplish what you dream.

Can our self-worth fluctuate? Absolutely. Everyone stumbles. Everyone experiences self-doubt. Recognize these moments as gateways to self-improvement, not as devaluations of your worth. Remember, the greatest triumphs often surge from the heart of turbulent storms.

So, if you happen to catch a reflection of your self-worth in that mirror right about now, take a good look. What do you see? Are you perceiving yourself through the grey lens of societal standards and comparisons or through the bright light of your unique potential and inherent value?

No one else in this universe holds the power to construct the metrics defining your worth. That power rests solely in your hands.

We each hold the chisel and mallet to sculpt our own worth—a worth not set by an external appraisal but solely by the self. Now, shall we begin?

Introspect. Analyze. Erase the external noise. Look within, beyond the physical and superficial, towards what truly matters—your capabilities, your strengths, your dreams, your passion. Rewrite your worth narrative. Start from scratch, if you need to.

If the task seems daunting, remember a time when you conquered adversity or achieved something you felt was beyond your reach. The euphoria you experienced- wasn't that real, palpable? Anchor your worth in that feeling.

Assign weightage to your uniqueness—the person you are, as you are, inch-perfect. Embrace your imperfections. Celebrate your individuality. After all, it's in being true to oneself that true worth is realized.

The bottom line—only “you” possess the true authority to determine your worth. It's an intimate, personal choice. A choice that defines how we encounter our existence and engage with the world. So, the next time you catch your reflection, remember the only person who can craft the real image you see is you.

Craft it with compassion, adorn it with respect, and polish it with self-love because, as Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” And therein lies the essence of your worth.

Who knows, the next time you look, you might just discover that the mirror has lost its power to reflect anything but love and pride.