Intrinsic Value

One day, a mother asked her child while holding up a $100 bill, “Do you want this money?” The child immediately responded that they would accept it. The mother then crumpled the money and asked the same question again. The child still responded that they would accept it. The mother then threw the money on the ground and stepped on it, and repeated the question. The child’s answer remained the same: they would still accept the money. The mother asked why the child continued to want the money even though it had been crumpled and stepped on. The child replied, “I don’t care if the money has been crumpled or stepped on; even if it’s been treated badly, it is still worth $100.”

The $100 in this illustration represents monetary value. But did you know there are values beyond monetary worth? Yes, there are. Perhaps you have heard of humility, compassion, generosity, understanding, and discipline? If you have, then these are referred to as self-worth. So, what is self-worth?

Marcus Aurelius, a Stoic philosopher, defined self-worth as "Someone who emphasized the importance of self-acceptance, self-reliance, and focusing on what is within one's control rather than external factors."

Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher and one of the leading intellectuals of the Enlightenment, stated, “Self-worth is the one who argued that all humans possess inherent dignity and worth by virtue of their capacity for rational autonomy and moral agency.”

John C. Maxwell, an author, defined self-worth as “the belief that you’re both worthy and capable of reaching your potential.” Meanwhile, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, self-worth is “a sense of one's own value as a human being.”

From these four definitions, we can conclude that self-worth encompasses the recognition of one's inherent value as a human being, rooted in self-acceptance, autonomy, and moral agency. It involves a belief in one's potential and capabilities, emphasizing both internal control and dignity, independent of external validation.

This brings to mind the quote, “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” This quote by Christian D. Larson, a teacher of the “New Thought” movement, encourages a mindset of self-belief and inner strength. The phrase "Believe in yourself and all that you are" highlights the importance of self-confidence and self-awareness. It suggests that you should have faith in your abilities, qualities, and potential. Recognize and appreciate your unique strengths and characteristics. The phrase "Know that there is something inside you" points to the intrinsic qualities and capabilities that every person possesses. It implies that within you lies a powerful force or potential that may not always be visible but is always present. And the phrase "That is greater than any obstacle" underscores the idea that your inner strength and resilience are powerful enough to overcome any challenges or difficulties you may face. It inspires the belief that no matter what obstacles come your way, your inner resources can help you prevail.

This quote reminds me of a news story from a few years ago, where someone was labeled “kampungan” or "unsophisticated" in English, because she thanked a person who had helped them cross the street. The incident occurred in June 2018, when Gusti Kanjeng Ratu (GKR) Hayu, the fourth daughter of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X with Gusti Kanjeng Ratu (GKR) Hemas, was called “kampungan” for thanking a security guard who helped her cross the street in Senayan. On her X account (@GKRHayu), she recounted that after she thanked the security guard who assisted her from Plaza Senayan to Senayan City, someone commented that it was a “kampungan” thing to do. GKR Hayu found this to be strange. She felt that it was appropriate to thank someone who had helped her. She wrote on her X account, “Nyebrang dr plaza senayan ke senayan city, ngucapin “Makasih Pak” sama tiap satpam yg nyebrangin. Diketawain gerombolan di belakang, bisik2 ngatain kampungan. That’s called manners ma fren, were you raised by wolves???” (Crossing from Plaza Senayan to Senayan City, saying ‘Thank you, Sir’ to every security guard who helped me cross. Laughed at by a group behind me, whispering and calling it kampungan. That’s called manners, my friend, were you raised by wolves?)

Despite being a princess, because Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X is a sultan of the Yogyakarta Sultanate, GKR Hayu did not feel embarrassed to say “thank you.” She believed that as fellow human beings, it is only right to express gratitude to those who assist us.

From this incident, we can see that GKR Hayu, as a princess, upholds values of politeness and humility. Even in modern cities like Jakarta, where saying “thank you” to someone of a “lower” status might be unusual, GKR Hayu continues to uphold the values of etiquette and manners that have existed since long ago. This aligns with Christian D. Larson’s quote, “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.” And just like the illustration at the beginning of this article about the $100 bill, even though it has been crumpled and stepped on, it remains worth $100.

Similarly, in our lives, we might find ourselves in environments that have forgotten the noble values we have learned and believe in, such as humility, compassion, generosity, understanding, discipline, and so on. But we must not get trapped in such situations and forget these noble values. Instead, we should continue to uphold these values because, through them, we demonstrate the self-worth within us.

"You with the sad eyes

Don't be discouraged, oh I realize

It's hard to take courage

In a world full of people

You can lose sight of it all

The darkness inside you

Can make you feel so small

Show me a smile then

Don't be unhappy

Can't remember when

I last saw you laughing

This world makes you crazy

And you've taken all you can bear

Just call me up

'Cause I will always be there

And I see your true colors

Shining through

I see your true colors

And that's why I love you

So don't be afraid to let them show

Your true colors

True colors are beautiful

I see your true colors

Shining through"

True Colors by Cindy Lauper