ABC’s of Self-Realization: Identifying Importance

In discussing self-importance, it’s important to realize that this topic is not about ego or arrogance. It’s about informing those with a low self-image that they are important.

Many women in the world are cast under the stereotype of “servant" - of putting others first. They are people-pleasers or they may be co-dependent – doing for others what those others could be doing for themselves. So many women become rescuers, victims, or those whom believe that self-denial is a positive thing. Many are not given choices. They don’t believe they are worthy of making their own choices. It’s not true. It’s truly not.

There are men in the world who have been taught that they are of little or no value. They have been taught that they have no right to speak up or stand up for themselves. They are told they are not allowed choices in life. That’s not true, either.

All of us have a choices. The very fact that we exist and breathe is the most fundamental aspect of understanding that we are important. The other aspects that make us important are that:

- We all have a purpose; every single person ever conceived has a purpose for being here. - Because we were conceived, it is our inherent right to be loved and treated with respect. - We need to realize that we have to learn to love and accept ourselves before we can ever truly love and accept other people. Self-love is important. - Because we are here, there are people in the world who believe that we are the most important person in their life, whether we know it or not.
It’s important to realize that each of us has the innate right to become who we wish to be. We are born with perfect self-esteem, believe it or not. When we are babies, we innately know we are going to be fed and held and loved and coddled.

As babies, we innately know that the world “revolves around us”, so to speak. Most of us “know” that are needs are being met and that we have value and importance because we aren’t ignored. Keep in mind that I said that most of us have innate importance because most of us are taken care of in loving ways when we are born. For those of us who don’t get our most basic needs met, it is much harder to fathom our importance as we grow and continue our journey in this life. It is possible, though, to find our importance with a lot of diligent introspection and soul-searching. It just takes a bit longer for some than for others.

If for nothing more than food for thought, please ponder the following from Nelson Mandela:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Nelson’s speech expresses it perfectly. We are all important, valuable, and have a light inside that we need not fear. So shall it be!