How to Recognize Your Strength and Inner Worth

I’ve been wanting to write here since the first week of the year. A new year brings a fresh start, and I found myself excited about a few things—one of them being my new rescue kitten, who unexpectedly changed me for the better.

Not long ago, I wasn’t as cheerful as I am today. It took one small, gentle soul to help me see life from a different perspective.  

Someone once said, “Happiness teaches us to appreciate what has always been there.”
This kitten brought me so much happiness, and because of her I found a deeper appreciation of myself. I saw my strengths, my value, my worth and  many more things that I thought I lacked. Here's more...

1. You Are Tough

You stood alone while everyone else crouched under a climate of fear. You were knocked down, and still—you rose every single time. You brushed off the pain, carried your scars with pride, and stepped back into the fight. That’s resilience. That’s strength forged under pressure. That’s you.

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2. You Were Present

You showed up when others choose to disappear. You held someone’s hand when they believed  that the world had turned its back on them. They managed to move forward because you chose to walk beside them.

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3. Humility

You recognized when your judgment faltered—and instead of shifting blame, you owned the mistake fully and apologized. That takes courage. By choosing accountability over ego, you showed true humility. You understood that no one is perfect and that even  the best intentions can go astray.  Growth begins the moment we take responsibility.

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4. Wisdom

You are a heart-led person. You look beyond appearances and see what truly matters. Life’s greatest values cannot be measured, owned, or visually proven. Love, loyalty, trust, meaning, connection, and responsibility don’t show up on the surface—but they are what give life its deepest worth.

As The Little Prince reminds us:

“One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eyes.”
— The Fox, The Little Prince

The eyes see surfaces. The heart sees essence

Choosing to see with your heart—that is wisdom.

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5. You Are Resilient

Even when the fiercest storm raged around you, you remained standing. Scarred and bruised, you did not collapse. You held on to the smallest thread of hope.   Resilience isn’t about avoiding the storm; it’s about surviving it and still choosing to rise.

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6. You Stayed Quiet

Even when your soul was screaming to speak its truth, you chose restraint. You understood that not every battle needs a voice and not every truth needs defending. Sometimes, it is wiser—and braver—to be kind than to be right. Silence, in those moments, became your strength.

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7. You Chose Kindness

You showed kindness even to those who did not deserve it. Not because they earned it—but because kindness is who you are. You refused to let bitterness harden your heart. In a world that often rewards cruelty, you chose compassion—and that choice speaks louder than any words.

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8. You Pursued

Even when the path required you to walk alone, you kept going. Like the penguin in the tale who chose to journey toward the mountain—uncertain of the outcome, yet trusting the pull of instinct—you followed your own calling. You moved forward not because the road was clear, but because your purpose was.

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9. You Spoke the Truth

Your good judgement tells you that truth deserves a voice—and you carried the weight of telling it.  Even when it made everyone uncomfortable, you stood firm. You chose integrity over comfort and honesty over silence. Speaking the truth cost you something, but it also defined you. Sometimes, people need to hear the hard truth. 

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10. You Loved

Unapologetically. Without conditions. Without guarantees.
You loved even when it wasn’t returned. You loved those who didn’t deserve it. You continued loving when it went unnoticed or unrecognized. You loved because it brought you joy. It makes you happy to love, 'cos that's who you are.

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Closing Thoughts

So there.  It's hard to believe that a little feline nudged me into writing these thoughts. Maybe a fairy sent her to me, maybe someone bigger and more powerful being did. Whoever it is I am thankful. And I share this wonderful feeling to YOU- because you are here and you're meant to read this.