Do you ever question your worth? Are you afraid to speak up for yourself? Do you diminish your self with self-deprecating humor and beat them to the punch you know is coming?

I suspect that we all experience crises of confidence in our selves. How do we move through those moments? Is it just a matter of sitting in front of a mirror and reciting Stuart Smalley's affirmation" "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and doggone it, people like me!"

Whenever I struggle with knowing or appreciate my worth in any situation I find that a couple of practices work well. One is meditation. Anything where you are able to sit still, quiet your thoughts and breathe. Shutting up those voices in your head that tell you that you are insufficient or that you shouldn't stand up for you. The other technique I find useful is just to listen for evidence that I am worthy (or, really, any question I'm grappling with) and why which often comes during those two great thinking opportunity, epiphany-giving activities: walking the dog or taking a shower. I wouldn't be half the genius I am if it weren't for showers and dog walking.

If showers and dog walking aren't really working for you allow me to share the wisdom of other bloghers.

Jennifer Stoddart at Work In Progress writes of The Importance Of Knowing Your Worth

We know our worth in our careers and our friendships, but why do we sometimes forget our worth when it comes to relationships? It seems that there will be people in our lives that we will fall for who will not completely see our worth, and in their self cherishing ways, will bruise our hearts.... Know your worth, don't ever forget how special you are; and if someone makes you doubt your value or compromise yourself or your integrity, know that you do deserve more than that.

Samantha Smikle at On My Own Writes says:

Whether it's a job, a relationship or a pair of shoes that you can't afford (but you think you deserve)--you have to know your worth.

Terreece M. Clarke at Freelance Writing Jobs & More offers Freelance Writing Commandment #3 - Know Your Worth:

Each day, freelancers troll job boards, contact editors, follow-up with clients and screen offers for gigs. And with each contact we make decisions on our worth. The question is, are you treating yourself with the respect you deserve?... [So] Be a professional and know your worth!

Cesca at On The Garden Wall... confessions of a bad housewife is feeling burnt out, but...

Yesterday at 5pm I realised that I was feeling faint and physically terrible. It took me a while to realise why - I'd been on my feet all day, racing around the place, but had forgotten to actually eat anything all day. Not good.

I've made up for that today, and intend to enjoy my merlot tonight. As that ad goes, I'm worth it.

Nathalie Lussier at Billionaire Woman explains The Difference Between Fulfillment and Achievement:

Real fulfillment is when you wake up knowing that you are enough, you have everything you will ever need (or it will fall into place soon enough). You are filled with joy, with a deep lasting satisfaction that doesn’t disappear with the changing of circumstances. It is something that stays with you always and that cannot be shaken....

How to Get Fulfillment [?]

4. Count your blessings and know that you are enough.

Christy Murphy's blog name and description tell the story:

You Are Enough: The first error is the assumption that you are not enough. The second error is that you can do something about it because it operates under the incorrect assumption of the first error. You are enough. No matter where you are in life, what you did or did not do today, YOU ARE ENOUGH--ALWAYS.

Finally, JLITT62's SparkPeople blog shares this wisdom:

Some time ago I came up with this mantra:

You are enough. You have enough. You do enough. ...

We think we aren't good enough. Not a good enough mother, not a good enough friend, not a good enough wife, not good enough for anyone to ever fall in love with. But you are enough.

And, an Independence Day bonus - three bloggers who are declaring their independence:

Gertiecranker says:

Quick Draw’s advice to me (well, he had several advices on some of his favorite topics—some of you will know what I mean) was to “Get over being a sick person.” He meant, go do stuff! Take my cane, or my walker if I have to, but go do stuff.

I think that’s what Sarah meant by declaring independence. I am no longer a passive sick person. I may limp a little, and I won’t jog the Tart Trail or step dance on the tabletops…but I have a lot of reasons to celebrate tomorrow, personal as well as patriotic.

Lorie Marrero at The Clutter Diet® Blog says:

What if you declared independence from your stuff--forever? What if you could just walk away from everything and start over?

Megan at Free my Brain from Migraine Pain says:

I wish you independence from pain, from fear and from worry!