Understanding self-worth

On Self-Worth

Self-worth is an intimate, deeply personal matter. The word may be familiar, even universal, but how we experience it is uniquely our own. Psychologists note that even in similar situations, two people can feel entirely different about themselves. Every day, consciously or unconsciously, we seek confirmation that we matter—both to others and to ourselves. Those with stronger self-worth rely more on their inner compass, yet most of us are still sensitive to others’ opinions.

I often think about this when I work in front of the camera. Studies show that healthy self-worth eases performance anxiety. When you accept yourself, the camera becomes just a tool—not something to fear. Of course, confidence also comes from experience, preparation, and skill—self-worth is only one part of the equation. And yes, there are days when my confidence dips. I feel like nothing I do has value, like I’m just a tiny dot on the planet. That’s completely normal. Even people with strong self-worth experience natural fluctuations.

Our modern culture often pressures us to always be meaningful, productive, and certain. This pressure can become so constant that we forget the simplest truth: our value exists here and now.

I believe every life, every experience, ripples into the collective consciousness—a deeper, shared layer of the human psyche. I also believe our actions shape a broader context—a shared social fabric in which we all live. No one exists in isolation. Our lives and choices shape both this universal psychological layer and the everyday social world around us.

Carl Jung’s idea of the collective unconscious suggests that beyond our personal mind, where memories and experiences reside, there is a deeper, universal layer shared by all humans from birth. It holds archetypes—universal symbols, images, and behavioral patterns like the Mother, the Hero, or the Shadow. These archetypes explain why similar myths, fairy tales, and stories emerge across different cultures, even without direct contact. While not proven biologically, this theory has profoundly influenced culture, art, and psychotherapy, offering the idea that every individual contributes to the shared “field” of humanity’s psyche.

Even if you don’t embrace Jung’s theory, it’s scientifically clear that our words, actions, and presence shape the experiences of others. If you think you are nothing, you are mistaken. Simply by existing, you are changing the world around you.

This thought is both humbling and freeing. If, as I am, I am already impacting the world, then my task is clear: to live in a way that feels true to me—with instincts, feelings, dreams, a bit of reason, and the freedom to follow my own path—here on Earth and among the stars.

Because only you can be you. Every day, every word, every action, every choice changes the world. That is real value—your value—to yourself and to the world.