by Harmony Barrett

Created on: February 14, 2008

Who am I? What do I believe in? Why am I here? These are questions that have been speculated on since the dawn of man. Is there value in my life? What is my contribution? Have I done, or will I ever do anything that will make a difference, or impact the world, even in the smallest way?

The answer to these questions can not be found on a black board or in a book. They can not be found in the minds of others. Yes, you can search outside of yourself for enlightenment, and you can travel many paths in search of your inner value, but ultimately, no matter where you go you will find yourself where you are.

So often in this world, people find themselves dissatisfied with their lives. Satisfaction comes to our lives when we have the knowledge, ability, and strength to look within and decide for ourselves what is good enough. No one else can answer this question for us. No one else's standards should be applied to our inner worth. It is our own comfort within us which is most important to ourselves. Without recognition of our own limitations, strengths, and sense of self being, we will never discover our value.

Our value varies from person to person; therefore, no one can point out for us what our worth is. It is something very personal and it must be discovered for ourselves. In life we will have many well intended people attempt to guide us or enlighten us. They will have many opinions and judgments to make about us and our lives. The standards by which they live their own lives will become the standards they set for us when they appoint themselves our saving grace. As well intended as they may be, they hinder us from personal growth. We can not live by others standards. In living by others standards, our self worth declines. In living by others standards, we are no longer allowing ourselves the right to grow from within. We are stifling the very essence of ourselves when we allow others to dictate to us what our personal value is.

When we look around at the world we have built for ourselves, we will find many outward, material, worldly things. These things, we say, make up our personalities. They are designed to show others who we are, what our tastes are, what "makes us tick," so to speak. What would we do if we were stripped of all these things, placed somewhere without environmental stimulation, and left alone with no one to interpret our perception of our reality? We would be challenged to look within and deal with our demons, accept our graces, our faults, and

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