Worthy.

Another day, another workshop.

I recently purchased the audiobook, Worthy, by Jamie Kern Lima. With this book purchase comes a series of live workshops with the author, held over six weeks.

During this week’s workshop, I was reading the flood of comments on the live feed. I was astonished by the number of women on the call who didn’t feel worthy. They didn’t feel worthy to be loved and appreciated, and were falling into the trap of imposter syndrome in their jobs and relationships because of this unworthiness.

A study published in the Psychology of Women Quarterly in 2019 found that daughters who reported having close, supportive relationships with their fathers during adolescence had higher levels of self-esteem in young adulthood. 

That’s right. You, Dad, are the first start to her development of her self-esteem, self-worth, and her ability to show up day after day feeling worthy. It’s so important. As your daughter eventually turns into a young woman and perhaps a mom raising children, she will experience people, negativity, and outside forces that will attempt to knock her down. No one is exempt from getting knocked down. Still, she will get up faster by remembering the voice of her father, who, throughout her formative years, reminded her that she was enough, valuable, loved, and appreciated.

Tony Evans has a quote: “It’s far easier to shape a child than to repair an adult.”

I spend much time reading and getting coached. Education never ends, and we are always learning. One thing I’m very grateful for is not having to spend time working on my worthiness and who I am - thanks to my dad.

Does your daughter feel worthy? It doesn’t all fall on you, Dad, but those early years do matter. What steps are you taking to ensure your daughter knows she is enough every day?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.