Whenever You Feel Unworthy, Turn To These 11 Truths For Comfort

You ARE worthy.

A woman with curly hair gazes contemplatively into the distance. Her expression is thoughtful against a blurred ocean backdrop.

A lot of people struggle with their sense of inherent worth. They may feel like imposters, or that they somehow don’t “deserve” the joy and beauty they experience. If you find that you’re feeling unworthy, about anything, remember the 11 truths listed here.

1. Almost everyone feels this way sometimes.

A person with long dark hair sits on a park bench, resting their face on their hand and looking thoughtfully into the distance. They wear a white shirt, blue jeans, and a colorful scarf. The background is lush and green, suggesting a peaceful outdoor setting.

This may surprise you, especially if you’ve placed certain people on a pedestal and feel like you’ll never hold a candle to them, but with the exception of a few unhinged people with delusions of grandeur, almost everyone feels unworthy and small on occasion. This doesn’t mean that it’s true: just a shared life experience.

2. Your life’s journey is unique to you, and therefore cannot be compared to another’s.

A young person with short, dark hair is standing on an outdoor street at sunset. The sun is low in the sky, casting a warm glow and lens flare. Buildings and a body of water are visible in the background. The person is wearing a dark shirt and has a serious expression.

As such, there’s no need to ever feel “unworthy” because you’re comparing yourself to someone else. When and if you feel like you don’t deserve something good because you don’t feel that you’re as good, kind, smart, attractive, as someone else, try to stop comparing yourself to them. They’re not you.

3. You are more than the sum of your physicality.

A person with shoulder-length blonde hair and a serious expression is seated at a wooden table. They are wearing a floral patterned shirt and have their hands clasped together, looking ahead thoughtfully. The background features a blurred, warm-toned interior.

We are all spiritual beings currently riding around in temporary vehicles of flesh and bone. In the same way that a car is not its driver, you are not the body you’re inhabiting. Remember this if you ever feel unworthy of love, appreciation, or anything else because you feel that your body isn’t “enough”.

4. Mistakes are nothing but accumulated experience.

A close-up of a person with short, light brown hair and a beard looking downward, gently touching the side of another person's head. The background is blurred, seemingly an outdoor setting with soft natural light.

Do you feel unworthy of what you have because of perceived mistakes that you’ve made in the past? Remember that mistakes are part of the growing process: they’re meant to be lessons, not life sentences. Learn what you need from your missteps, but make a conscious decision to move past them.

5. You are far stronger and more capable than you realize.

A person with long hair, wearing glasses, and dressed in a red sweater over a white shirt stands against a gray background. They have one hand on their hip and the other touching their face. The person appears to be in a thoughtful pose.

It may be difficult to feel good about yourself if you’ve spent years feeling like you’re worthless. The thing is, every single person on the planet is here because there’s something important they need to do. You’re much stronger, capable, smarter, and kinder than you think, and you absolutely have a role to play here.

6. People who feel unworthy are capable of feeling.

A bearded person with glasses, wearing a dark green shirt and light-colored pants, is sitting against a white brick wall. They are resting their chin on one hand and looking thoughtfully into the distance. A wristwatch is visible on their left wrist.

The absolute worst people in the world don’t care about much of anything. As such, they’re able to proceed through any muck they encounter without any damage to their self-esteem. In contrast, people who feel that they’re unworthy are usually deeply caring, sensitive souls, who are sources of immense light in this grey world. The fact that you feel anything at all is a good thing.

7. Those you perceive as being more worthy than you have shadows you aren’t aware of.

Two women with long red hair stand in a forest with sunlight filtering through the trees. The woman in the foreground wears a leather jacket and looks towards the camera, while the other gazes to the side.

What we know of other people is mostly the facades that they present to the world. Although you may feel others are more “worthy” than you are, keep in mind that you have no idea what they’re truly like. They undoubtedly have shadows and hurts that you cannot conceive of, hidden behind their masks.

8. Just because others have put you down and made you feel unworthy, that doesn’t mean that’s the truth of the situation.

A man with short dark hair is sitting at a wooden table indoors, resting his chin on his clasped hands and looking thoughtfully into the distance. He is wearing a pink knit sweater, and the background is softly blurred with warm lighting.

Often when people put you down for something, it’s because they’re intimidated by your growing capability, power, charisma, and so on. This can even happen when parents feel competitive with their own children. Take note of the internal voice that’s putting you down, as it’s usually someone else’s. It’s not your own, and doesn’t reflect the truth.

9. There are people who feel unworthy in comparison to you.

A close-up of two women sitting together, looking towards the camera. The woman on the left has long, dark hair and is wearing a light pink top. The woman on the right has long, blonde hair and is wearing a white button-up shirt. They appear calm and composed.

You might look in the mirror and see a person who’s unworthy compared to those you admire, but others look at you and feel the exact same way. You may feel like you don’t deserve to be where you are, but someone else wishes they were in your shoes (but feels unworthy to be in them).

10. You have positively affected others’ lives in more ways than you know.

Two women are smiling and posing closely for a photo outdoors. One woman is wearing a white top with denim overalls, and the other is in a red top. They both have curly hair and look happy. The background is blurred with greenery and a building visible.

It’s likely you have no idea what kind of a positive influence you’ve had on other people’s lives. A kind word to a stranger may have convinced them to choose life for a little while longer, and the generous tip you gave a barista might have fed their child for another day.

11. You will defeat yourself far faster than anyone else could.

A person with short, dark hair and red nail polish is resting their forehead on their clasped hands, appearing deep in thought or distressed, against a blurred background of horizontal lines.

If you find that you’re on a “let’s bash myself” routine, take a step back, empty your mind, and approach whatever’s troubling you with detached neutrality. This also works well with confrontational situations—you’ll be amazed at how much more effective you are when you’re not giving in to the negative self-talk.