How Much Are You Worth?

“If I were you, I would stand for something. I would count.” -- Benjamin E. Mays

“No one can make you feel inferior without your own consent.” -- Eleanor Roosevelt

One great question, “How much are you worth?” Great answers too but with some quite intriguing. It appears that the first thing that comes to people’s minds when asked this question is the amount of money they have or some other valuable properties they own. These thoughts obviously affect their responses. Very few people place values on themselves as separate and distinct entities devoid of material possessions. Incidentally, this is the only value my question sets out to elicit. Male and female responses have been largely similar with females valuing themselves slightly more. The bottom-line has been that everyone places a very high premium on themselves. However, when you ask how they arrived at the values they placed on themselves; you find that many based their responses on subjective values. Is it then safe to say that a person’s value is inestimable? Yes, but not quite.

In my own way, I have always approached this matter this way. How much will you charge me if I ask you to give me one of your eyes? Monetary values are usually bandied around. Some people even say there is no chance that they will ever sell their eyes. Very valuable eyes indeed! Stretch this further to your hands, legs, liver, lungs etc and above all your brain. Add all up and you will be amazed how valuable you are. If you are this valuable, how come some people always believe they are worthless when it comes to facing the facts of life? Something tells me such people have never bothered for once to value themselves. Anyone who attempts this self-valuation will never again look down on themselves.