Commercial Integrator + Security Sales Sept/Oct 2023 - 10

MAKING WAVES
What's Your Self-Worth?
Recognizing our self-worth is a transformative journey that requires self-reflection,
self-acceptance and self-love. By Susan Wilhite
SOMEONE ONCE SAID, " Know your
worth, then add tax. " Knowing your
self-worth is not merely a buzzword; it's a
powerful tool that allows us to navigate
life's challenges, pursue our dreams and
foster healthy relationships. Join me as we
delve into the depths of self-awareness,
self-acceptance and self-love. Learn why
recognizing our worth is crucial for a
fulfilling and authentic life.
The Most Important Components
Cultivating Supportive Relationships:
One of the most important aspects of
achieving success, whether personally or
professionally, is having a high level of
self-worth. For some of us, it comes naturally
while others work hard to cultivate
it. I am one of those to whom it comes
naturally, but, sometimes, a good internal
peptalk is needed. Luckily, my optimistic
outlook on life and positive feelings about
myself help with that. Then again, I can
also always turn to my group of #AVBesties
to pump me up.
Embrace Individuality: Society often
imposes a set of standards and expectations
on women, leading us to question our
worth when we don't fit into predefined
molds. Each of us has a unique blend of
talents, passions, strengths and quirks.
Embracing our authentic selves allows us
to celebrate our differences, honor our
passions and find our true purpose in life.
Valuing Inner Strengths: As women,
we possess incredible emotional intelligence,
empathy and intuition. Self-worth
is not about accomplishments, job title,
income, degrees or looks. People constantly
obsess over those things, but here's the
bottom line: Self-worth is the value you
place on yourself. It is your responsibility
and your internal sense of being capable
and bringing value. Knowing my own selfworth
leads to increased self-confidence.
This feeling improves my productivity and
makes me confident to face hard tasks and
work more cohesively with my colleagues.
Embracing our self-worth is not a destination but, rather, a lifelong commitment
to ourselves, allowing us to navigate life's challenges with grace and confidence.
Equality by the Numbers
When you have a high level of self-worth,
you trust your own judgment and make
better decisions. It can give you that confidence
to ask for a pay raise or a promotion
or get a new job. In the same way that " no
one can make you feel inferior without
your consent, " it's a personal responsibility
to advocate for your worth and value.
This is especially true when you consider
that the national average shows that
women earn only 84% of what their male
counterparts make.
Standing up for your self-worth and
demanding what you deserve shouldn't
be considered selfish. On the contrary,
opening that door or smashing that glass
ceiling sets a precedent for the women
who follow behind you. If you ever need
the inspiration to pursue equal pay,
remember that it's not just for you but also
to close that 20% pay gap and progress
toward a more equitable world.
Studies and articles on women's labor
show that there actually isn't any tangible
reason that women are underpaid and
undervalued. From the looks of it, women
are more likely than men to accept less -
possibly because we are happy even to be
offered a seat at the table. This cognitive
dissonance might only be cured on the
grassroots level: women demanding equal
pay from their employers. Statistics show
that companies are not making equal pay
10 Commercial Integrator+Security Sales & Integration | Sept/Oct 2023
a top priority or value. That being said,
women on all levels of the ladder must be
supported in their advocacy for equal pay.
This may be achieved by placing more
women in leadership roles.
Maintain Self-Respect,
Avoid Compromise
Consider this quote: " If you aren't being treated
with love and respect, check your price
tag. Maybe you've marked yourself down.
It's you who tells people what you're worth.
Get off the clearance rack and get behind the
glass, where they keep the valuables! "
Recognizing our self-worth is a transformative
journey that requires self-love,
self-acceptance and self-reflection. By
embracing our individuality, valuing inner
strengths, setting boundaries and cultivating
supportive relationships, we empower
ourselves to live authentically and boldly.
Embracing our self-worth is not a destination
but, rather, a lifelong commitment
to ourselves, allowing us to navigate challenges
with grace and confidence.
Remember: You are worthy, deserving
and capable of achieving greatness. Embrace
your worth and let your light shine
brightly in the world.
You are worthy! You are enough! Say
it back. CI
SUSAN WILHITE is a director on the
WAVIT board.
HITDELIGHT/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Commercial Integrator + Security Sales Sept/Oct 2023

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