Worthy Regardless: My Journey to Recognizing My Self-Worth

Zoe J Felix
Aug 6
1 min read

For the longest time, I let outside validation define how I saw myself. If people hyped me up, I felt confident. If they didn’t, I questioned everything about me. It took me a while to realize that kind of worth is fragile. Temporary. Conditional.

I started asking myself: Who am I when no one is clapping? When the likes slow down? When the brand deals don’t come through?

The truth is—my worth is not dependent on how others view me, but how I view myself.

This didn’t click overnight. It took hard moments, tears, self-reflection, therapy, prayer, journaling, and talking to my inner child. But more than anything, it took intention. Intentionally unlearning that I had to be everything for everyone. Intentionally speaking affirmations over myself even when I didn’t believe them. Intentionally choosing me.

Here’s what’s been helping me:

Daily affirmations like “I am enough, even in stillness.”
Writing love letters to younger me.
Taking breaks from social media when comparison creeps in.
Surrounding myself with people who pour into me, not drain me.

I’m still on the journey, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come. If you’re in the thick of it, please know: your worth is not up for negotiation. You were born valuable. Period.