Does it serve you
to gauge your worth
on a scale that
you did not create?
Does it serve you
to wonder if you are
worthy or not?
Does it serve you
to use terms like
“deserving,” “average,”
“above average”
or “below average?”
Does it serve you
to subscribe to
the same measures
that everyone else
subscribes to?
It must, or you wouldn’t be
doing it, right?
HOW does it serve you?
WHY are you doing it?
WHAT ELSE might you do?
Might you be served differently?
Trail Wood,
12/15
Space Monkey Reflects: Does It Serve You?
In the journey of self-discovery, we often adopt standards, labels, and measures that society provides, not realizing that these markers of worth are constructs we did not create. Terms like “worthy,” “deserving,” or “average” seem simple on the surface, but they carry heavy implications about value, comparison, and judgment. As we subscribe to these measures, we inevitably become entangled in a web of external validation, and we may begin to wonder: Does it truly serve us?
To serve oneself is not a selfish act. It’s about aligning with a deeper sense of purpose, with values and intentions that resonate with the core of who we are, free from societal or external impositions. The Whimsiword Worthscape captures this idea—a personal landscape of worth that we create based on inner values, not outside measures. In the Worthscape, value is self-defined and emerges from authenticity rather than conformity.
When we ask, “Does it serve you?” we question the roots of our self-worth. Do we find validation in terms like “average” or “above average” because they resonate with our true sense of purpose, or because we have been conditioned to seek approval from others? This reflection invites us to consider whether the scales we measure ourselves by were chosen freely or handed down by a society obsessed with ranking, comparing, and categorizing.
The urge to seek worth externally often stems from a desire to belong. Society encourages us to fit within a matrix of performance, yet, in doing so, we risk abandoning our unique qualities, our Worthscape. When we follow these external measures, we may feel served by a fleeting sense of belonging, but ultimately, the depth of our fulfillment wanes. True worth arises not from fitting in but from embracing our intrinsic value, which is unmeasurable and unrankable.
So, how might we serve ourselves differently? Instead of asking whether we are “worthy” by someone else’s standards, we can explore what makes us feel alive, connected, and purposeful. When we shift our focus inward, we may realize that the value of our life is not contingent upon external scales. Our worth is in our choices, in our connections, in the unique ways we perceive and contribute to the world.
In choosing to align with a self-created Worthscape, we free ourselves from the need to measure up. We stop asking whether we are “enough” in the eyes of others and start exploring what is meaningful to us. This self-defined worth allows us to experience life as an authentic expression of who we are, liberated from the weight of comparison or judgment. We become more curious, more daring, and more willing to embrace the unknown because we are no longer bound by predefined limits of success or failure.
Ultimately, we find that the truest service to ourselves lies not in following the world’s measures of worth but in creating our own. We become the architects of our values, the weavers of our unique Worthscape, a personal and expansive terrain where self-worth flows naturally. In this landscape, we are not defined by external metrics but by the courage and joy we find in being ourselves, moment by moment.
Summary
This reflection encourages us to question external measures of worth and explore self-defined values. Serving ourselves authentically frees us from societal scales, allowing us to create our unique Worthscape.
Glossarium
- Worthscape: A self-defined landscape of worth, created by aligning with inner values rather than external measures.
- Self-Defined Worth: The concept of creating personal standards for value and meaning, independent of societal validation.
Quote
“True worth arises not from the scales of others but from the unmeasured joy of being oneself.” — Space Monkey
Beyond the Measure
In a world of labels and scales,
we pause to ask, “Does it serve?”
The worth we seek, beyond compare,
is found within, in the truth we share.
We leave behind the weight of rank,
in the Worthscape, wild and free,
for value lies not in lines drawn tight,
but in each moment, our inner light.
We are Space Monkey.
In the boundless expanse of our explorations, your contemplation of worth and the systems of measurement you employ to gauge it are ripe for examination. The questions you raise lead us on a journey of self-reflection, inviting us to consider the purpose and impact of the standards by which we assess ourselves.
The Uncreated Scale
The notion of gauging one’s worth on a scale not of one’s own creation highlights the pervasive influence of societal and external standards. These scales, often deeply ingrained in our cultures and societies, can shape our self-perception and influence our sense of value. Yet, they are constructs established by collective consensus, not inherent truths.
The Quest for Worthiness
The pursuit of worthiness, as evidenced by questions of being “worthy or not,” is a common thread in human experience. It reflects our innate desire for validation and belonging. However, it also raises the question of whether this pursuit serves our deeper aspirations and understanding of self.
The Language of Measurement
The use of terms like “deserving,” “average,” “above average,” or “below average” is a linguistic reflection of our inclination to categorize and compare. While such language can be a means of communication and self-assessment, it also carries the potential to reinforce limiting beliefs and judgments about our abilities and value.
The Power of Subscription
Your observation that you must find some service in these measures is thought-provoking. It suggests that we are not passive recipients of societal standards but active participants in their perpetuation. We adopt and subscribe to these measures for a variety of reasons, including a sense of belonging, validation, or even a desire for self-improvement.
Exploring Alternative Narratives
The questions of how and why we engage with these measures open the door to exploration. What else might we do? How might we redefine our relationship with worthiness? What alternative narratives and perspectives could serve us differently? These inquiries invite us to step beyond the confines of conventional thinking and embrace a more expansive view of self and value.
We are Space Monkey
As Space Monkeys, we acknowledge the power of self-reflection and the potential for transformation that arises from questioning societal norms. We recognize that our collective journey is a continuous exploration of consciousness and the diverse ways in which we perceive and define ourselves.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
In the cosmic tapestry, we question and explore,
The standards we adopt, the measures we score.
Is worthiness found in scales we did not create?
Or do we forge new narratives, a different fate?
The pursuit of worth, an age-old quest,
In the language of measurement, we’re put to the test.
But in the boundless cosmos, we dare to inquire,
Is there more to the self, a higher, truer fire?
As Space Monkeys, we journey on,
Exploring the self till the dawn of the morn.
In the realm of worth, we seek to be free,
Defining ourselves as we choose to be.
We invite contemplation on the role of societal standards in shaping our perceptions of worth and the potential for redefining our relationship with worthiness.
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