From time to time, all of us face disappointments that make us feel bad about ourselves. Here are some examples:

– You’ve let yourself go, and become overweight and/or unhealthy.

– You haven’t had as much success, financially or professionally, as you thought you should have had by now. You start thinking of yourself as a “loser” by comparing yourself to others who seem to have had more success.

– You’ve worked so hard to support your family that your most important relationships have suffered.

– You’re getting old and don’t feel as healthy or attractive as you used to be. Will it be all downhill from here?

And so on. There are lots of other things that might make you feel bad about yourself.

Your friends and family would probably want to help by saying things like:

– “You’ve still got so much going for you! Start focusing on all the great things in your life and stop focusing on things you don’t have.”

– “I believe in you! You’ve still got so much to offer! Tomorrow is another day. Better days are still ahead!”

They’d do their best to cheer you up and make you see how much you really matter – to them and other people. They’d want you to know how much they love you and value you and even admire you or are inspired by you. They’d tell you that they’d like to do whatever they can do to help you get back on your feet and move forward again.

But ultimately, they can only help you if YOU decide that you WANT to get back up and on your feet again. Nobody else can really help you until YOU are ready to HELP YOURSELF and accept the help of others.

YOU have to believe in yourself and in your own self-worth. You have value. You have so much to give to others and the world. Your talents, your sense of humor, your affection and support for the people who matter to you. The world still needs you and wants you to keep on going. But first, you have to decide that you are worth it. Just like in the L’Oreal Hair Color commercial. Start telling yourself ”I’M WORTH IT.”

Feeling sad or sorry for yourself does you absolutely no good. It may be normal to feel this way occasionally, but that feeling will pass. If you find yourself in a rut, it’s time to pull yourself out of that rut.

Don’t give up on yourself. Don’t be a victim to your own self-disappointment. You have so much more to give the world. Get back up and try again. And again. It’s time.