My daughter struggles with self worth. Her life is limited by a progressives disease and she cannot do very much as far as hold down a job or finish college. She thinks that she is worthless and a burden to us.

That saddens me as she is incredibly wonderful and precious to us! She brings us great joy and love! Isn't that the most important thing you can do for others? But she doesn't buy it. She feels useless.

What makes you feel as though your life is worth something?

I am so sorry to hear about your daughter. I'm sure it must be a very difficult situation for both her and yourself.

My daughter struggles with self-worth. She seems to really like hanging out with me doing things. I had to leave for a week to go to NJ and couldn't take her. She cried...(she's 18). She said she felt like her best friend was going away.
Things like that, make me feel like my life is worth something. We did a 8 week self hypnosis class together and she really opened up about a lot of things.

For the most part, we just hang out together sometimes just wandering around Washington DC taking pics with our camera phones. (We always seem to forget our cameras). Going into the shoe store and trying on shoes we KNOW we wouldn't really wear but we like. It's the simple things.

Chi - maybe your daughter should watch "It's a Wonderful Life," as an example of how just one life can affect so many others. Adding joy to others' lives as she does is a huge thing. I think we "all" can feel worthless from time to time, but "all" of us having something to give. I love the verse from the Christian bible 1 Corinthians 13, "...And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." No matter what faith, we have nothing if we don't have love. It sounds like your daughter does have a lot of love to give. Perhaps you can think of ways in which she has touched other people's lives. If she wasn't here, imagine how those people's lives might be different. I believe God has a purpose for all of us. I'm certain that your friends' and family's lives have been greatly enriched by the love and joy she shares, as you have said.

Great idea, Different! I will! We have that DVD. Our lives have been blessed beyond measure because of her. Now she will see how it can be.

Thanks Dianne. Sounds like you have a fantastic relationship with your daughter. She is so blessed to have you for a mother! We, too, just hang out. We love our girls' time with movies, lunches out, library time, etc.

I am so thankful she is my girl.

Awesome! I hope it helps! She is lucky to have a mom like you!!

I agree - while I know she will probably still have days - you are both truly blessed to have the time that you have in each others lives. You are a fantastic MOM!!!

Many thanks for all your comments above. Talk about synchronicity, my Self Development article for this week is actually on 'Self Worth'! I'll post it on the Forum in the next few days - will let you when it's there. (JOY)

As promised above, here is the article I mentioned:
Self-Worth : How To Increase It

Great article Joy! You hit on a lot of great points. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Many thanks for your feedback on my self development article - it is much appreciated! (JOY)

Nothing. Sure there are things that gives me joy but it does not give me self worth.