The Self-Worth Secret I Discovered in 6 Ancient Verses (That Modern Psychology Confirms)

Man’s word is his wand filled with magic and power - Florence Scovel Shinn

Hello and welcome to the Self-Worth Journal, I am Sheila Daisy a daughter of two cultures and Self-worth and Self Acceptance advocate. I write about my personal experiences with both of these concepts and how I have been able to build and nurture my self-worth. It is my hope that you will not only enjoy but find real value in my writing. Enjoy!

I had a conversation with a very dear friend this weekend and that got me revisiting my old journals. As I flipped through the pages I found so much gold in what I had written - (yes can I humbly praise myself?) and in the coming weeks, I plan to share a few. The one that caught my attention the most and which has also inspired my post today is how 6 verses in the bible helped me transform my mindset and self-image when I was at my lowest.

Before you hit unsubscribe or scroll past this article give it a chance because this is not a religious text and I am not trying to convert anyone but rather shed light on how these age-old texts share similarities with modern psychology.

I believe you at some point have felt down or broken so much that it seemed impossible to put yourself back together or get back up on the horse again. That was me over a decade ago after a series of personal and professional setbacks that left my self-esteem in the trenches, and a big hollow pain that I really couldn’t place.

I felt empty and incredibly sad, why can’t I seem to just find some joy in this thing called life, I found myself searching desperately for something—anything—that could help me feel whole, a sense of belonging and a reason to be here.

In my search, I knew I didn’t want to go the medical route or to be medicated, so I found a spiritual life coach who worked with me and part of this journey was learning how to talk to myself.

I have always believed in the power of words and so I’ve been very careful with the words I spoke out to others but my own inner conversations were not as pleasant as I thought. My task for relearning how to talk to myself included finding new conversations to reframe my self-image.

This put me on a quest to find words that spoke specifically to me and not some generic and overly used affirmations. What I discovered in that search wasn't another self-help trend or cliché affirmation, instead, I found timeless wisdom in ancient words that resonated with something deep inside me.

I had read books which I believed had incredible wisdom and so I picked and mixed my affirmations from Louise Hay - You Can Heal Your Life, Florence Scovel Shinn’s - The Power of the Spoken Word and the good old Bible. As someone who had grown up with the Bible, I knew it had many scriptures on almost everything a man could think of so I wasn’t surprised when I found 6 of such scriptures that became my “saving grace” in this period of my life.

When Modern Self-Help Falls Short

In the book “Think and Grow Rich” - Napoleon Hill writes The subconscious mind makes no distinction between constructive and destructive thought impulses. It works with the material we feed it, through our thought impulses. The subconscious mind will translate into reality a thought driven by fear just as readily as it will translate into reality a thought driven by courage, or faith.

I tried it all first. Positive affirmations that felt hollow when I said them, various reprogramming techniques that helped but couldn't quite reach the core of my self-worth issues and meditation apps that calmed me temporarily but didn't transform my self-image.

In my follow-up sessions, it was clear that what I needed wasn't just techniques—I needed truth that felt bigger than my current circumstances, words I found myself and I could believe in even when I couldn't believe in myself. The words I found in the resources I referred to were impactful, and they were texts I resonated with not ones I had read or heard someone use.

The Science Behind Powerful Words

Research in cognitive psychology shows that the words we internalise have profound effects on our neural pathways. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that self-affirmations activate neural pathways associated with positive valuation and self-related processing.

Well, my question is what makes certain words more powerful than others? According to research by Dr. Kristin Neff, a leading expert on self-compassion, the most effective self-affirming statements are those that:

1. Feel authentically true to the person

2. Connect to values larger than oneself

3. Can be believed even during moments of doubt

For me, these powerful phrases happened to come from the Bible. For you, they might come from philosophy, literature, or cultural wisdom traditions. The source matters less than finding words that resonate deeply enough to rebuild your foundation when everything else crumbles.

The 6 Phrases That Transformed My Self-Worth

1. I am fearfully and wonderfully made

This phrase from Psalm 139:14 completely reframed how I viewed my perceived flaws. Instead of seeing my physical traits, analytical mind, and emotional depth as weaknesses, I began to see them as intentional aspects of my design.

✨ How it changed me: I stopped apologizing for my inherent traits and started appreciating the unique way I'm wired, how fearfully and wonderfully created I am. When I caught myself in negative self-talk about my personality or my looks, I would counter with: "This is part of how I'm wonderfully made.”

💡Research connection: Studies on self-acceptance show that acknowledging your intrinsic worth—separate from achievements or others' approval—is a cornerstone of psychological well-being. A 2019 study in the Journal of Happiness Studies found that self-acceptance was more strongly linked to life satisfaction than external factors like income or social status.

2. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you

This powerful statement from Jeremiah 1:5 completely transformed how I viewed my inherent value. It helped me understand that my worth existed before my achievements, appearance, or what others thought of me. So, now why did I feel the need to overextend myself to prove that I was worthy of the things I so readily gave to others?

✨ How it changed me: I stopped measuring my value by external factors and began to appreciate that my worth was established long before I could do anything to earn it. This freed me from constantly seeking validation through accomplishments or others’ approval.

💡 Research connection: Studies in developmental psychology show that a stable sense of inherent self-worth is associated with greater resilience against criticism and setbacks. This phrase helped me develop what psychologists call "unconditional self-worth"—value that isn't contingent on external factors.

3. How precious are your thoughts toward me

This affirmation from Psalm 139:17 addressed my deep-seated belief that I was fundamentally unimportant and forgettable. It offered the radical alternative that I was actually continually held in mind with care and attention.

✨ How it changed me: I began to counter my inner critic with the possibility that I was genuinely valued beyond what I could see or feel in the moment. When feeling invisible or insignificant, I would remember that my worth wasn't dependent on who liked me based on how I made them feel, or what I could give them. My value as a person and myself is something that I am born with not conditional.

💡 Research connection: Studies on perceived social support show that feeling valued by others—or by a higher power—significantly improves mental health outcomes and stress resilience. This verse helped me develop a secure attachment style —a fundamental sense of being valued and held in mind.

4. You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood

This powerful declaration from 1 Peter 2:9 revolutionised how I saw my place in the world. After years of feeling ordinary and insignificant, these words awakened me to a profound sense of purpose and identity. No, this didn’t mean I had found my calling but I had found a sense of self and meaning to my life, how I could use the different talents I’ve been blessed with.

✨ How it changed me: I stopped downplaying my abilities and began embracing my unique gifts as valuable contributions. The concept of being "chosen" helped me recognize that I had something meaningful to offer others rather than constantly comparing myself to them.

💡 Research connection: Research on purpose-driven identity by psychologists like William Damon shows that viewing yourself as part of something larger than yourself significantly increases resilience and life satisfaction. This verse helped me develop what researchers call "transcendent self-concept"—seeing your individual worth as connected to a greater purpose.

5.I know the plans I have for you

From Jeremiah 29:11, this reassurance that there was a purposeful plan for my life became an anchor during times of uncertainty. It countered my fears that my life was meaningless or that I was simply drifting without direction.

✨ How it changed me: Instead of seeing setbacks as evidence that I was on the wrong path, I began to view them as redirections toward something better. This reduced my anxiety about making "perfect" decisions and helped me trust the unfolding process of my life.

💡 Research connection: Research on hope theory by psychologist C.R. Snyder shows that having a sense of purposeful direction correlates strongly with psychological well-being and resilience. This verse helped me maintain hope even during difficult circumstances and transitions in my life.

6. I have a purpose prepared in advance

Based on Ephesians 2:10, this phrase helped me reconnect with a sense of meaning when I felt adrift. This verse like the former two filled me with the courage that my life had an intentional purpose, regardless of how insignificant I might feel, and gave me the motivation to keep moving forward.

✨ How it changed me: I began looking for purpose in small daily actions rather than waiting for some grand revelation. This relieved the pressure of having to "find my purpose" and instead helped me live purposefully right where I was.

💡 Research connection: Viktor Frankl's work on logotherapy demonstrates that a sense of purpose is essential for psychological well-being. Finding meaning, even in difficult circumstances, correlates strongly with resilience in the face of challenges.

How to Find Your Own Transformative Phrases

My journey back to self-worth was and still is deeply personal, and yours will be too. Here are a few tips on how to discover words powerful enough to rebuild your foundation:

1. Identify What Resonates Deeply

Pay attention to quotes, phrases, or passages that give you a physical reaction—goosebumps, tears, or a feeling of relief. These visceral responses often signal words that speak to your deeper self.

For me, these phrases from the Bible resonated because they connected to my childhood faith, to something bigger that always had me in the warm embrace of love and care. Your powerful words might come from some other source like poetry, philosophy, or cultural traditions.

2. Test Them in Your Darkest Moments

The true test of transformative words is whether they hold power when you're at your lowest. During my journey, I wrote these six phrases on post its, cards and reached for them first thing in the morning or last thing before bed, during rejection, or overwhelming self-doubt.

3. Personalize and Internalize Them

I found that changing the words “You” to “I” in places where the texts seemed to be talking to a multitude made them more immediately applicable. Whatever words you choose, make them personal rather than abstract concepts.

4. Practice Daily Embodiment

Rather than just reciting these phrases, I looked for ways to live them out. When "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" became my truth, I found myself taking small brave actions I wouldn't have attempted before.

5. Share Your Words With Trusted Others

When I finally shared these phrases with close friends, they were inspired to find their own - mantras to live by. It doesn’t have to be only on self-worth but auto-suggesting can be used in whatever phase of life we want to see improvement.

Resources for Your Journey

Words are indeed powerful and when used correctly can be transformative, if you're searching for words powerful enough to transform your self-worth, these resources might help:

• Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Dr. Kristin Neff – Offers research-backed approaches to developing genuine self-compassion

• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown – Explores how embracing imperfection leads to greater wholeness

• Journaling practices – Try "completion statements" where you finish sentences like "I am..." with truths that resonate deeply

• Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl – A profound exploration of finding purpose even in the most difficult circumstances

The Truth About Self-Worth

Almost a decade now, I can say with confidence that these six phrases literally saved my life. They didn't just make me feel better temporarily—they rewired how I fundamentally view myself.

The most powerful discovery was that my finding my authentic self was based on my inherent self-worth which isn't built on achievements, appearance, or others' approval. It's built on truths solid enough to withstand life's inevitable ebbs and flows. For me, these came from the Bible, but the invitation is to find words that speak to your deepest self—words you can believe even when believing seems impossible.

As we start a new week, can I suggest you ponder over how you use your words especially when you talk to yourself. What phrases will you use to speak life, health, love and abundance over yourself and others? In the words of Florence Scovel Shine - “You are now a master workman and your tools are your words. Be sure you are building constructively, according to the Divine Plan.”

Thank you for reading, I would love to hear your thoughts, perspectives and experiences so please do share them in the comments. If you have found this article useful and know someone who might resonate please do share this with them.

Wishing you a beautiful week ahead.

Love & light

Sheila Daisy