Do I have your attention? ADD is a disease that affects the mind, but I am not going to be talking about that in this blog. I do want to talk about another "disease" that affects the mind...CDD or what I call "Chronic Devaluing Disease."
This morning after I got done teaching my Kettlebell class, I checked my email. One of the emails sitting in there was an email that I have seen come into my inbox many times. It was a particular continuing education company that was offering a 60-80% discount on some home-study courses. Then it dawned on me for the 1st time...this is not just another great special...they ALWAYS offer a 60-80% discount! Every email I receive from them attaches this same discount to it all year long! It sends the message to their subscribers that they don't put a lot of value on their product because of a perpetual discount. It essentially cheapens the product and company.
Likewise, how many people chronically devalue THEMSELVES? How many people are always discounting who they are...what they offer as a person...what they have to give? When you see yourself as not having a sense of WORTH to your relationships and the world around you, it's easy to fall into the trap of never offering your "FULL PRICE" to others! It's like you put yourself on sale with everyone in your life. This could be from past hurt/abuse or comparing yourself to others whom you think have more to offer or a more "expensive product." It could be because you think you have nothing to offer or a "product" that nobody wants. It could be that somebody has spoken over you that you are no good or have no worth.
The TRUTH is that these are ALL lies! EVERYBODY has something VALUABLE to offer. The question is, do you KNOW you are valuable and were Created with a gift that others need? We all have been Given valuable and "expensive" gifts, but if we don't realize that, we will continually default to discounting ourselves. A business that discounts everything all the time will eventually go out of business. Similarly, a person that always discounts the true value of who they are and were created to be will eventually go mentally, emotionally and spiritually bankrupt! Even physically your body can suffer health problems when you chronically devalue yourself. It can lead to great internal stress or bad habits that directly affect your health.
CDD will never be cured if one doesn't realize WHO they are (not what they do) and that their gift is EQUALLY as valuable as anyone elses. Our past doesn't determine our worth! Our job title doesn't determine our worth! Our bank account doesn't determine our worth! Our "accomplishments" don't determine our worth! What people say or think about us doesn't determine our worth! Our worth was established before we were born! Our Creator made us ALL valuable and we have to understand that when we DISCOUNT ourselves, we are DE-VALUING how God sees us and the gifts He has given us. So, go and take down all of the "sale" or "discount" signs on the "windows" and start OFFERING full price to people! YOU are WORTH it and you will be healthier too!
