How Much are You Worth

How much are you worth?
We live in a culture where the terms net worth and self worth have become synonymous. Yet they have entirely different meanings. I have always been interested in examining language and words for their hidden meanings. Often if we look closely enough, a far greater truth lies within words than we had imagined. For example, if we separate and dissect the words net and worth, an entirely different picture comes into view.
According to Webster’s collegiate dictionary, the two most common definitions of the words net are: anything that catches or traps; ensnares or 2: a net amount, profit, price or a result; after all considerations, or final.
The word “Worth” means Monetary or the value of something measured by its qualities or by the esteem in which it is held.
Finally the word “Self” means ones own person as distinct from others.
Upon considering these words, we discover that most of us have been “Trapped” and ‘Measured” by money, leaving the self rather alone and unaccounted for.
Since we often do not feel good about our Net Worth, Our Self-worth has devalued and our self esteem deflated.
This has recently been evident in our culture that has too often been exposed to publications such as the Forbes Magazines rich list. When we see the likes of Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Tiger woods, Oprah or Jay-Z and how much they are worth, we fall into self pitty when we compare how much they net, as compared to how much we make in a fiscal year. This is purely because we have not properly appreciated ourselves for being intrinsically valuable in our uniqueness, Separate from our Net-worth.
When it comes to Net-worth, most of us feel that we never quite measure up. Thinking about how much we have accumulated as proof of our value and this is a painful experience.
In our culture our wealth is the ultimate measure of who we are. We have unfortunately become defined by it. Those who have little Net worth feel a corresponding lack of self worth. But guess what? they are not alone. Many people who have a high Net worth also experience similar feelings of low self esteems. The difference is that, although they have plenty of money, they often do not feel worth of it. They appear to have everything and yet nothing..An example of such is the Late Michael Jackson, Marylin Munroe, Mike Tyson and so many more. On his College Drop out Album, Kanye west best defined this problem on a song titled ‘when it all falls down’.. He said, “it seems we leaving the American Dream, where people highest up have the lowest self-esteems, the prettiest people do the ugliest things. On the road to riches and diamond rings”
I believe this lack of self esteem is caused by a profound Spiritual bankruptcy that is so prevalent in our culture.

Having lived a life in the persuit of money and material gain, we often Neglect the ‘Self’ and its inherent longing for ‘Spiritual Connection’. As human beings, we alone have this need. I do not believe this need is simply evolution at work. Rather it is intended that we value and nurture this dimension of our self above and beyond all else.
Without this connection to the self, our true worth is diminished, and life becomes an endless search for substitutes to fill the void. Examples of such idols are Money, Education for Status, Cars, Clothes, Jewelry and all the things money can buy.
Not to say that they are bad, but when we are defined by these items we become ensnared in the net, caught in the money trap.
I cannot, but believe that we will not escape until we begin to value ourselves above money and material gain. Eisenhower once said, “Money cannot buy you happiness, but a pleasant form of misery”.
We need to create a new paradigm of living. One that we have inherited for generations out of the habbit and lack of consciousness.
More money may not be the right answer. But because we have been burdened by the thoughts of the lack and limitations, we have not been taught to think beyond our historic point of view. Yet we are so much the sum total of our experiences. There is a truth in each of us that is deeper than any biography our lives could ever tell.
Yes we are greatly influenced by our backgrounds and experiences. But defining ourselves merely by those is much too limiting.
Our Money is not our lives, no wonder we suffer from such low esteems. Once we paste this on our minds, we start to live. A famous saying states that we make a living by what we get, but make a life by we give. Once you embark on living by such a philosophy, we find fulfillment, purpose and joy in what we give others through our talents, humour, personality knowledge and wisdom.
I don’t believe any amount of money can bring you the kind of Joy in life, when you know that you are nourishing, uplifting, blessing, teaching, serving and saving peoples lives with your unique God given abilities.
That is the true value of oneself in life. Your self worth is attained when you are not just a mere friend or spouce, but a valuable person to others.

My friend Willy once jokingly said to me, “Chim money is not the only thing in life, it is everything”. I hope people do not live their lives by such philosophies, because they are detrimental to human relations.
I say so because we are born with practically nothing material. Just little naked babies covered in blood and when we die, we go out the same way with practically nothing material. Yet most of us live most of our lives in the persuit of money and status. My friend Mate once asked me this in a conversation I had with her, “Chim, have you ever heard of a wealthy person ask for a bank book on their death bed?” I laughed at that observation coz its true. But as funny as I found that question and after observing these analogies, don’t you think life is much more than being paper chasers? Who’ve become economic salves on the work treadmill, running an exercise in futility, where some get lucky and get rich, while others just keep working till they retire with clenched fists worried about depleting pensions.
The agony that befalls both instances is when the question comes to mind about what next to do in life after making or getting this money. These folks live by the wise 50 cent philosophy of “get rich or die trying”. I think its foolish.LOL
I Have seen relationships and marriages fall apart due to this greed in the fear of social status, lack and limitations in the persuit of money. So why do you want to be another statistic of the Net-worth culture, when you can be a happy self-worth Victor?
True self worth begins when you become conscious about what matters most in life and you become an Investor in God, yourself and others (family and friends).
Invest your time in learning from lessons in life, Gods word and from listening and sharing what you have with others. I guarantee you happiness that money can never buy, if you do this.
The Unhappiest people in the world are those who wonder how the world is going to make them happy. The Golden rule is putting yourself in someone else place rather than putting them in their place. Therefore whatever you want others to do unto you, do so for them Matthew 7:12.
The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated. So you cannot underestimate the value of a single person, so do not take advantage of people for they are Gods most loved creation.
He created this world and all the Great things that exist, like the Sun, Vegetation and animals etc..All of these wonders where created to accommodate mans comfort. He even sent his only begotten son Jesus to die for your salvation. John 3:16
that’s how valuable you are. No amount of money can buy your worth lest you don’t realize how great you are. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that you aren’t worth Jack, coz you are worth more than the world, everything in it and even more.
Peace and love My Great Wealthy friends.

P.s Next time I see a Forbes Publication on the worlds rich list on Self-Worth, i hope to see your name blinging on the Top, coz that’s your spot.
HOLLA!