Everybody wants to be seen, heard and valued. We all make mistakes, are made up of shadow and light, and are healing and transforming over time. We all have things that may be off-putting to others and to ourselves. I’ve had to come to understand I’m much more than any of those things—and forever worthy of love.

What I’ve discovered in my own life is I have to believe in, and love, myself just as I am in any given moment-even when I feel like I really messed up. I can see (I’m aware) that as long as I’m alive, they’ll always be more healing/growing to be done-and to never stop trusting the process. I can pay attention and hear how I’m speaking to myself, and do the inner work needed-especially when I’m not showing myself love and affection. I can choose to value myself in the present moment because love always resides in me.

I hear so many stories from people searching for someone else to see, hear, and value them. While, at the same time, they inadvertently share that they don’t see, hear, or value themselves. If we only try to extract these things from other people, we will stay in a position of perpetual want and victimhood. It’s true that it’s extremely important for each of us to see, hear and value others, but we must do it for ourselves too. When we do, we become an empowering light for others seeking this from outside themselves to instead experience the gift in knowing the incredible power of seeing, hearing, and valuing themselves!

Cheri Thomas

Cheri works as a Peer Support Specialist at Recovery Innovations. She writes as an expression of her heart in hopes of connecting to others’ hearts, so that no one feels alone on this journey-and instead feels valued, seen, and heard while growing in empowerment.