What determines YOUR self-worth?

Something is going on in today's society. All you have to do is scroll down your Facebook timeline to see people fishing for compliments, sympathy, and attention using a variety of superficial reasons. Why is this so?

I will tell you why. Because in today's society, God (even the idea of God) is being slowly weeded out. In his place we see money, power, possessions, status, sex. It's a horrifying thought to think these physically tangible things, that will all fade away at some point, are the determining factors in how a person sees his worth. If you have a  lot of money and beautiful women worshiping at your altar (like many celebrities do), society  adores your success. If you're a person of power, people look up to you. If you have a big house and big cars, people envy that. It is precisely for those reasons that self-worth is no longer determined by your spiritual fruit or your actions.

First, I'd like to say that you should be free from the judgments, hypocrisies, and standards of others. Know what you stand for and what you live for, and just because you don't have a million dollars or a new car, others don't determine your self worth anyway. Should I care if Joe Schmo up the street doesn't think much of me because I don't have girls all over me, or should I care that the money I donated at the grocery store is going to help a kid read? We've completely lost sight as a society of what self worth is, what creates it, and who determines it.

Many people are insecure, and cover up the fact that their souls and spirits are empty by using the superficial, physical things I mentioned above. Now I am not saying don't strive for happiness, success, and a comfortable life. But when these things no longer matter in 40 years and you're out of the limelight, what will you have left?

 I will get into what I personally believe in my faith in future posts, but for right now let's just say I truly think God has very little bearing on the physical world. The highest point a person's soul can reach is total fulfillment, which after physical death I believe to be Heaven. Without being religious, or even believing what I believe, you have a spirit whether you like it or not. Your life should be a journey of fulfilling this spirit by following the examples Jesus set of kindness, compassion, love, patience, and humility. Do good deeds, help others, read, pray, see nature, learn an instrument, take a class. Any rewarding activity that can build you spirit up. It is when your spirit starts to manifest that you truly see your self worth, and nobody can take it away from you.

On the other side, if you ignore the longings of your spirit and only use tangible things for temporary happiness, you will never find the fulfillment you are longing for deep down. All the money in the world won't satisfy your soul. So you may seem like a "god" to society because of what you have, these things will not and cannot last. Your self worth should not be determined by such things. Like I said, you don't have to believe what I believe, but I am sure you have all had that longing for something more deep down at one time or another. 

This is your soul crying out for food.

Feed it.

A full soul is all the self worth you need, regardless of what anyone thinks.