Self-worth is believing you are enough - just as you are.

I was listening to an interview with Jamie Kern Lima about her new book, Worthy, a few weeks ago. You might know who Jamie is—she founded IT Cosmetics, one of the most successful cosmetic brands in the world. She created, built, and sold IT Cosmetics to L’Oréal for $1.2 BILLION—yes, billion. Yet, despite her incredible success, she still struggled with self-worth. Her interview resonated with me so deeply that I immediately got her book—and devoured every page.

Determined to understand, Jamie dove deep into research and discovered a key distinction:

• Self-worth is believing you are enough - just as you are.  Self-confidence is believing you are skilled enough.

• Self-confidence is optional. Self-worth is essential.

• Self-worth is your foundation. Self-confidence is the house you build on top of it.

Simple yet impactful. Your self-worth is fundamental. So is your belief that you—just as you are—are worthy of love, belonging, and value. Self-confidence comes from your belief in your abilities—your skills, qualities, and capacity to meet challenges. While self-confidence may rise and fall with external factors, self-worth is the steady foundation for true fulfillment.

Jamie's book is filled with insightful nuggets and “ah-ha” moments—I highly recommend reading it. My biggest takeaway is that the struggle for self-worth is universal; it affects everyone, whether at the height of success or facing life’s toughest challenges. We often view self-confidence as the key to getting (or missing out on) a job, opportunity, or next step, tying it to our accomplishments and success. But what truly matters is growing and strengthening our self-worth. Deep self-worth is the foundation of personal happiness and fulfillment—learning to love ourselves as we are.

Last week, my best friend since age 12 and I sat at her dining room table, flipping through magazines and creating our 2025 vision boards. As we flipped through lifestyle, fashion, and food magazines, laughing and chatting, one word jumped out at me from a page—WORTHY. It stopped me in my tracks, instantly bringing Jamie’s book—and my own journey—to mind. The self-doubt that challenged me for years wasn’t a lack of confidence; it was a lack of self-worth. I genuinely didn’t believe I was enough, that I belonged, that I was valued.

So, my word for 2025 is WORTHY. It sits at the center of my vision board, reminding me that I am enough, that I belong, and that I am valued—just as I am. It also reminds me that the foundation is the most important part of a house. A strong foundation can support any house you build on top of it. This year, I commit to strengthening my foundation—my self-worth—in pursuit of fulfillment, personal happiness, and love.

 Find your inspiration for 2025—in a book, podcast, magazine, or a conversation with a friend or colleague—and choose your word. Keep it in front of you—on a vision board or a Post-it note—as a daily reminder that in your pursuit of happiness and fulfillment, you are already enough. You belong. You are valued.