To Every Woman — Know Your Worth And Value!
I encourage you this day to toss out the notion that:
- you are less because “He” dumped you or cheated on you or tells you your nothing
- you are less because “She” flaunts her body in front of you making you think that because you’re over weight you aren’t beautiful
- the texture or length of your hair makes you less attractive
- your skin color makes you less appealing
- your pedigree is less than Park Avenue or Lakeshore Drive because you came from the streets, projects, trailers, foster care or no formal education
- you are less than a woman because you had a mastectomy, hysterectomy, miscarriage or are infertile
- you are less because mama wasn’t there or daddy wasn’t there thinking you belong to no one
- you are not worth loving because “Friend girl” did not support you, talked about you, lied on you
- because “He” beats on you or verbally abuses you that you’re worthless
- that because your loved ones passed on that you’re alone because you’re not
Please know that God designed us as women and that he loves us unconditionally. We don’t all fit the mold of the ladies in the magazines or on tv. Some of us around “that time of the month” began to feel depressed and reflect on hurt and pain that has happened to us before or is happening right now. Or we look in the mirror and don’t like what we see and feel hopeless. Some of us walk around with a smile on our face but with tears in our hearts behind closed doors. I want you to know that you are greater than your circumstance. Stand UP “My Ladies” and know your worth. Stand up “My Ladies” and know who you are and whose you are. Stand UP and encourage one another and do not tear each other down.
Why do I write this today, because in my own reflection of looking over the years from grade school until now, I just remembered the hurt and pain that I carried for years that I did not share. I remembered what it was like to have a smile on my face when I was truly hurting inside. I remembered what it was like to be cheated on, backbitten, talked about and belittled. There are still some today that want to see me fail to remedy their pain and misfortune. But when I look at my life now, I have a faithful, loving, handsome man of God who loves me like no other. I have four beautiful children that remind me everyday just how blessed I am. If you want to know how that should encourage you…I once was that little girl trapped in an adult body who thought she was worthless because of what others said or did. And now I know that I am worth the love I receive and those around me are worth the love I give. I don’t need a husband or children to know I am blessed. I am blessed because God ordained it to be so and I choose to step in it and receive it in Jesus’ Name. I dare you to Stand UP and love yourself enough to know your worth.
My Ladies, Stand UP and make your presence known that you are worthy to be loved and cherished. But it starts with you looking in the mirror and convincing that woman you see to…….STAND UP!!!!!!
Blessings and Inspiration,
Shannon Ayers Speaks
shannonayersspeaks 
Hi im the director of eoe conferences and we want to hinour u for your org,and invite u to sit on the panel, email me fmi. Thanks God bless
LikeLike
Hello Minister Sandy,
I would need a bit more information about your organization and panel.
Blessings and Inspiration,
ShannonAyersspeaks
LikeLike
We as women, especially black women need to encourage and compliment one another. Not water each other down. I hate it when a women will see another women and instead of complimenting and saying something good about her; they will say “she thinks she’s cute.” Why shouldn’t she have a healthy self-esteem and self-image? We need to know our value and worth and encouragement like this is something we need and share with our sisters. Thanks Shannon, keep up the good work lady. You don’t know how many people you are encouraging through your writing.
LikeLike
Alicia,
I could not agree more with everything you’ve said. The very points you have raised is what motivated me to write that particular article. It is an unfortunate symptom of low self-esteem to judge each other the way we do without merit or cause. Thank you so much for your inspiring and encouraging words. Thank you as always for reading and do read again!!!
Blessings and Inspiration,
ShannonAyersSpeaks
LikeLike
Thank you so much for sharing this post! As women, we are often hardest on ourselves. We take care of and support others but don’t allow ourselves the same room to grow and just “be” who we are. This is an important reminder to us to love ourselves as we are. Sure we all want to strive to be the best women we can be, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t love ourselves now because you’re right, we do deserve it!
LikeLike
Very inspiring Shannon. I tend to worry alot about imperfections, but I think it’s time I shaped up and stopped worrying so much about what others may think of me, or better yet, how I feel others might think of me. We women need not worry anymore.
LikeLike
What an excellent post! The stereotypes we face each and every day will try to beat us down but we can’t let them. It’s time to turn off the tv’s and let the real world shine in on us so we can let the world know how great we really are!
LikeLike
Sarah, you are right! We all need to disconnect from online, social networks, and the t.v. and join the world again. I am interested in forging meaningful experiences outside the technology world. So many of us are living in silence when our voices should be heard.
LikeLike
Hi Shannon! What a wonderful article to read today. Last night, I went clothes shopping. I stood in the dressing room under those fluorescent lights privately hating myself because the clothes made me look fat. This is a feeling I’ve had my entire life. It’s so refreshing to hear this message of love and support from another woman at this very moment. Thank you for the inspiration!
LikeLike
Annie,
Thank you for your comment. So many women do exactly the same thing (present company included). Prayerfully, with enough encouragement from other sisters, we can get that extra boost of loving ourselves enough to know that “God don’t create no junk”. :-). Please continue to follow http://www.ShannonAyersSpeaks.com and be blessed in abundance.
Blessings and Inspiration,
Shannon Ayers Speaks
LikeLike
It breaks my heart to think that women feel this way. You are beautiful and strong and deserving of positive attention. I do not know you but I can tell you that you are destined for greatness, never forget it.
LikeLike
Women need to be more encouraging of other women. This is perpetuated through self worth and understanding of our own capabilities and accomplishments. We need to collectively bask in our sisters glory. It is a difficult world for women globally and those of us who can stand up, should.
LikeLike
Jessica,
Thank you for your response and you have never spoken more truer words. Please continue to follow http://www.ShannonAyersSpeaks.com for future posts of inspiration.
Blessings and Inspiration,
Shannon Ayers Speaks
LikeLike
I saw a photo on IG that read “I am not in competition with no other woman. I am only in competition with how high I can climb.” So fitting in modern times when women are consistently placed in situations that put us against each other instead of besides one another.
LikeLike
It never ceases to amaze me the people who will rise up to steal your joy if you allow them. When I was a child I struggled through teasing and bullying. I felt less than worthless. I hated myself and I hated everyone else.
I’ve learned that life is too short and too beautiful to let others steal my joy. My life is what I make it and the naysayers and bullies aren’t going to matter in the most important moments in my life. When it comes down to it, what matters most is the love and joy we’re holding onto when we meet our Maker. The rest is water under the bridge.
LikeLike
I am sorry that you were forced to endure others unkindness and insecurities. I have never been bullied but I have witnessed the harmful affects it leaves behind. With the invention of social media it is hard to not succumb to others judgments and harsh words. We put ourselves out there in order to be supported and lifted and you are right, many people rise to the challenge to tear us down.
I am happy that you were able to not only find your joy but cultivate it.
LikeLike
Marilee, as Sara said, I am sorry you endured such cruelness. Unfortunately, this happens to many women starting as young girls who carry this baggage all of their lives. It is my hope and prayer that I can reach as many women and young girls as possible to encourage them to know their worth so that they will not be weighed down with someone else’s short comings that was visited upon them. Thank you both for your comments and please continue to follow http://www.ShannonAyersSpeaks.com.
Blessings and Inspiration,
Shannon Ayers Speaks
LikeLike
I know one thing that helps me when I am feeling down, and that is forgetting myself and focusing on others. There is always someone out there who is more in need than myself. Serving them helps to lift my spirits, and usually theirs. It even in a weird way helps me to appreciate my own problems, and be greatful for my blessings.
LikeLike
Tauia,
I could not agree more. I have had some amazing experiences of healing just by putting my troubles aside to encourage someone else and in turn getting blessed and delivered. Thank you so much for your comment and for reading my post. Please continue to follow http://www.ShannonAyersSpeaks.com.
Blessings and Inspiration,
Shannon
LikeLike
When I was younger I struggled with feelings of self worth. I felt like a lot of young people feel. Not good enough. I compared myself to others, etc. I was given a poster by a church leader that had a drawing of a young girl and a caption that read “I know I’m special, cause’ God don’t make no junk!” I hung it on the wall and read it multiple times a day. Soon I began to really believe it and it became a part of me and my negative feelings pretty much went away.
I know that I am a Child of God, and that knowledge has since made all the difference. I hope everyone can learn to love themselves and others the way that God does… Unconditionally.
LikeLike
Jodie,
Thank you for sharing your personal story. I just recently had a conversation with my husband about how he compliments me but I shoot it down with disbelief because of my own personal insecurities. As women, this is something that we have to learn how to overcome. When we do, we will validate ourselves first before looking to others. That way, we are not dependent upon someone else’s approval when we were already stamped and approved by God. Thank you for commenting and please continue to follow http://www.ShannonAyersSpeaks.com.
Blessings and Inspiration,
Shannon Ayers Speaks
LikeLike
We as women definitely need to know who we are and whose we are. We as women need to stop watering one another down and encourage and compliment one another. I have had my share of not feeling so great about myself because of things that happened to me and the way people treated me. We all are different and we need to see the beauty and celebrate those attributes in one another. I am STANDING UP. Good article my sister, keep up the good work.
LikeLike
Alicia,
You hit the nail dead on the head. I absolutely agree. We can hurt each other like no man can and we can equally build one another up all the same. Thank you so much for your comment and please continue to follow http://www.ShannonAyersSpeaks.com.
Blessings and Inspiratoin,
Shannon Ayers Speaks
LikeLike