Our sense of self and our sense of worth often depend on what has been communicated/reflected to us externally that we have then internalised. This can leave many people with a very distorted sense of who they are and a diminished sense of their value. A person may have a low self-worth and an “inner critic” playing in their head; rather than this being about who they actually are, it stems from how they have been conditioned and what they have grown to believe. The sad fact is that people tend to believe the negative about themselves as being “more true” than anything positive, and so this just reinforces what they have been conditioned to believe. (Source: https://www.etutangata.nz/)

It has often been noted in songs, poetry, and traditional wisdom that “no one is an island”. We need one another. We succeed together. Unfortunately the individual desire to succeed can reduce another person’s sense of worth and value, it also stops people working together to produce something greater than themselves. People remain isolated, anxious, and suspicious of another’s success. However, when we support and encourage one another our wellbeing and resilience increases; we feel more confident to make our contribution in the world, to overcome problems together, and to achieve more than we ever thought was possible.

(Source: https://www.etutangata.nz/)

One of the pitfalls that people can get trapped in is the, “us against them” mentality. So much in our human history that is heart-breaking comes from people feeling threatened by those who are different from them. Whether we are suspicious or threatened by those who are different, or we are just absorbed by our own world, it can feel easier or safer to just look after “me and mine”. When we do this we close ourselves off to what is wonderful about others, and we distance ourselves from the needs of others. While this is understandable, it does not make the world a better place.

(Source: https://www.etutangata.nz/)