A Man’s Worth

Lazy doesn't exist. Lazy is a symptom of something else. The person who can't get up off their butt is just a person who's depressed. It's usually a pervasive lack of self-worth, or a feeling of helplessness.

Jillian Michaels

Anyone who has ever had life insurance will at one time or another joke about the fact that they are probably worth more dead than alive to their family. This might sound funny, till you consider how this question is considered when reviewing possible suspects when dealing with a murder. Is the amount of money you can earn what defines your worth? Or is it more?

If Forbes is to be believed, apparently so, as their list of wealthiest people tends to be phrased as “X person is worth X amount of money.” I refuse to believe this because a man is worth more than that, a lot more. Take a moment and think what you are worth. If you have difficulty finding an answer, think of the question this way instead. If you lost everything, what would you be worth?

People usually don’t consider how easy it is too lose everything. They usually never consider this until it has already happen, as they refuse to see it happening. We see this in the case of a financial disaster, a health crisis, divorce, or a death. At that time it’s when they realize just how ephemeral everything in life is. Your business plan wasn’t as fool proof as you told yourself. Your retirement fund wasn’t as secure as you thought. Your relationship wasn’t as solid as you liked to believe. Your friends were actually your ex-wife’s friends and not yours. You’re children are not necessarily going to outlive you.

It’s at this time you will question what’s your worth. When you lose everything you thought you were, what do you have to offer those around you? If you never took the time to consider what you’re worth, do you think you will be able to do so easily at this time? Think what you can offer, as a person, to those around you. What can you offer your friends when you have nothing to offer? What can you offer yourself?

This is why self-development and self-awareness is so important. What really matters in life, money can’t buy. Sure, it’s easier to cry in a Mercedes than on a bike, but do we really need to measure our worth based on our comfort during our suffering? Can’t we think that we are worth enough to hold our self-esteem and self-worth high, even during suffering?

So, when considering your worth, consider what currency you use to measure yourself. You worth isn’t measured with money, but with character. Your worth isn’t measured in how many acquaintances you have, but how willing are your close friends to be there for you. Your worth isn’t measured on what trips you can pay to take, but how you have grown from those travels. Your worth isn’t measured by how big your house is, but if it's rather a home.

So I ask you again, how much are you worth? The answer is rather simple; as much as you chose to be worth!