Let me ask you; is it possible that you have settled for a lower level of living because of your own negative self-image? Do you often feel mistreated, neglected, and used?

W hether you’re an entrepreneur, a career woman, in a romantic relationship, or a friendship, don’t let people treat you any kind of way. You’ve got to see your worth and demand that you be treated accordingly.

How do you demand your worth? Before I share what that means, let me first tell you what it doesn’t mean.

Demanding your worth doesn’t mean going around giving others a piece of your mind. It doesn’t mean being irate and aggressive whenever someone doesn’t honor you the way they should. It doesn’t mean being arrogant and unapproachable. And it certainly doesn’t mean burning bridges and ruining relationships when someone doesn’t give into your every whim. Let’s stay balanced here. I believe in always exercising temperance and doing all that’s in your power to keep your wits about you.

So, how do you demand your worth without employing acts of aggression, intimidation, and manipulation? How do you avoid committing egregious acts against others for the proliferation of self? I’ll tell you how.

It begins with changing the way you see yourself. After all, you can never demand respect and love if you don’t first respect and love yourself. Can I get a witness right there? You have to get rid of any and all negative thoughts, patterns, and behaviors that stand in the way of your personal growth. In a nutshell, above all else, work on self-development.

Don’t you realize that you can’t be treated like a doormat unless you agree to lie down? No one can walk on you unless you put yourself in that position. Whether you’re taken advantage of depends upon two things: Your permission and your position.

Really, it’s our own fault when we allow others get over on us. It’s true; we let them to do it. You know why? Because deep down inside we don’t feel worthy of the treatment we so desperately want. If you don’t believe you deserve something, you most certainly won’t pursue that thing.

Let me ask you; is it possible that you have settled for a lower level of living because of your own negative self-image? Do you often feel mistreated, neglected, and used? Do people consistently fail to respect your feelings and preferences? Do you feel under-appreciated and overlooked?

If so, the change begins within you and then manifests in the outer realm. Once you begin changing yourself, you’ll see others around you change. They might not like it, you may lose some friends, and you may even have to abandon some unfruitful relationships. But it’s worth it all. Because in the end, you’ll finally realize that you had amazing potential all along. You were worth your weight in gold the whole time.

You’ll look retrospectively and realize you were always: Brilliant, beautiful, funny, witty, charming, driven, creative, innovative, and just an all around stellar individual. You just couldn’t see it.

So, allow me to speak to you right now and tell you, whether or not your circumstances reflect your worth, you’re an amazing woman. You’re full of life and vitality and you’re worthy of double honor. You deserve someone who will see you for the true queen you are.

You deserve respect in business, in the work place, on campus, in ministry, and in all your relationships. You have something of value to offer. You’re unique. There’s nobody else like you.

I don’t care who has failed to see it. Today, I want you to look in the mirror and see past your limitations and see the possibilities. On this day, I want you to get to know your beautiful self in a new way. That’s right; it’s time to see yourself clearly even if it’s for the very first time.

If, by chance, you already have a strong sense of self and you know someone who could use a little pick-me-up right now, email her this blog post and strengthen your sister today! Until next time . . . may you be empowered to prosper! © 2007 EEW Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Dianna Hobbs is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Empowering Everyday Women Online Magazine, the premier online magazine for African American Christian women. This article is taken from Dianna's highly popular blog series called, Dianna Hobbs: Empowering Everyday Women. It is circulated to thousands of Christian women in search of inspiration for their ministerial and entrepreneurial efforts. To receive these exceptional articles directly, simply log onto http://www.diannahobbs.typepad.com and subscribe to our email updates. To read EEW Magazine log onto http://www.eewmagazine.com

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