abracadabra, I am that

Many of us grow up believing that our worth is measured by what can be seen, touched, or counted,  the visible traces our actions leave in the world, whether at work or in the quiet spaces of our hobbies.

By worth, I mean that subtle thread connecting us to our idea of identity,  the quiet “I am” that shapes the way we see ourselves. I call it an idea of identity because every time we try to describe who we are, our personality, our strengths, our flaws, we speak through a lens shaped by our beliefs, our upbringing, and the landscapes we have lived through.
This is why what you call “good, nice” or “bad, ugly” may carry an entirely different meaning in someone else’s world.

Self-worth is the deep, steady knowing that every human being holds intrinsic importance, before any role, before any achievement, before any appearance. It is an inner dignity, ancient and untouched, that exists simply because we exist.

Now that we have named this worth, ask yourself:
How often do you allow yourself simply to be, without doing?
How many of you shape your weekends with such precision, filling every minute as if silence itself needed justification,  as if stillness could threaten your value?

We rush after time as though it might slip through our fingers, forgetting that time is a concept we created. It is strange, isn’t it? That we paint our calendars with colors and obligations while knowing, deep down, that our time is finite.
I could wander further into the nature of time, but that will belong to another piece.
For now, let’s notice how often we fill our limited time with actions devoid of meaning, mistaking movement for fullness.

Of course, it matters to take part in the world, to contribute, to connect, to understand the spaces we inhabit. But our individuality, that inner contour of our being, is essential for growing both confidence and self-esteem.

And in case no one has ever whispered it to you:

Your worth does not depend on what you produce.
Your worth does not depend on how you look.
Your worth does not depend on the title you carry.

Your worth grows from the inside out.
It is in knowing your limits and honoring them.
It is in saying no when your identity feels bruised.
It is in walking in alignment with what you believe.
It is in allowing your essence to exist without apology.

Many of us are content with our work and satisfied with our lives, and still… a soft disconnection from our deeper self lingers.
Returning to oneself does not mean breaking your life apart or abandoning your responsibilities. It means creating spaces where presence can breathe.
Being in the present moment does not erase the past or silence the future. Reconnecting to yourself is not withdrawing from others, it is tending to your inner landscape so that you may love, and be loved, more freely.

When we nourish our physical, mental, and emotional energy, it ripples outward, touching our relationships, our surroundings, our world.

So how do we learn our worth, so we can spiral and unfolds in our life with trust, lightness, and freedom?

We begin with self-love.
To know your values, you must know the shapes of your inner landscape, what resonates in your chest like a quiet truth. Some values come from our education, our culture, our experiences. Others collide with our essence, asking to be examined, are they rooted in fear, in limiting beliefs?
If so, they can be softened, transformed, by stepping into new experiences that gently stretch the borders of who we believe we are.

Engaging in acts that nourish the soul, body, and spirit waters the seed of love planted within us. Confidence and self-esteem are not identical, yet like roots and branches, they strengthen each other. I believe deeply that nurturing self-esteem invites confidence to bloom.

As for me, I’ve always sensed that my sensitivity was a gateway, allowing me to find beauty in emotions, in people, in nature. Sometimes overwhelmed by it, I let my self dive deep into it, almost loosing myself. Throughout my life, I tended to these inspirations with small rituals, gestures that made me feel alive, creative, grounded, and they became pathways to self-expression.

Find the small things that make your soul stir: scents, flavors, walking, a sport, drawing, photography…

What fascinated you as a child? And why?
What films pull you in? What books cradle your imagination? What online content makes you feel alive, curious, inspired?
These things already live inside you. Let them speak through the small choices of your everyday life.

Your worth lives within you.
You can shape it, nurture it, let it unfold.
Isn’t it exciting to realize that your authenticity is your magic wand, capable of creating joy, beauty, and sacred moments?

-charlottealleaume