Page 110 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2023

Know YourWorth
Knowing our self worth can be challenging at times because as women we wear many hats at home, work, and in the community. For those wanting to advance in their careers and possibly request a pay increase, knowing self worth is important.
humans we are good and deserve good things, but we are not always skilled at appreciating our strengths and accepting our challenges. In the mental health field, we tend to think of self-worth as a core value although it can change as a person learns more about themselves and their place in the world.”
Now, about that raise! “When we have an overall positive and reasonable view
of ourselves and our skills and faults, it’s easy to put ourselves in environments where we shine and are most impactful,” Youngblood says. “Stable and positive self-worth can help us be sure we are valued in our careers, but it also helps us set limits, say no effectively, and create the necessary space for self-care. We are more likely to address, advocate for, and take care of our needs if we believe we deserve it.”
A few tips from career website Indeed.com include:
• choose the right time (such as after
you’ve completed a project)
• research salary trends (have a list of
your accomplishments)
• set meeting (in person or video call if
in person is not possible)
• prepare what you will say (rehearse it) • be ready for questions
• thank your manager
Youngblood says working women tend
to carry a heavy load. “We often forget to take care of ourselves and use all our energy taking care of others. When we work toward developing stable self- esteem, we improve our ability to meet our own needs.”
She recommends taking care of your body, finding time to spend with others who encourage and support you, seeking guidance from trusted community leaders, taking occasional breaks from social media, exploring hobbies and interests, and seeking therapy to discover more strategies to use throughout life.
Dr. Gaela Youngblood
Dr. Gaela Youngblood, a licensed clinical psychologist with Memorial Health System, says if we see ourselves as worthy, valuable and important, we must also have a high opinion
of ourselves and be able to see our strengths.
“However, for many of us, those concepts are not as connected as we may wish,” she adds. “Philosophically or spiritually, we may believe that as
110 | September 2023
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
story by Lynn Lofton photo courtesy of Memorial Health System