Why Do People Not Value You? The Bhagavad Gita on Self-Worth
Riya Kumari | Mar 26, 2025, 12:51 IST
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
So, here you are, scrolling through life with your best “I’m doing fine” face on, when suddenly, bam, it hits you: nobody values you. It’s like being the last piece of pizza at a party—you know you’re valuable, but no one’s coming for you. And don’t even get me started on the inner monologue that starts, “What’s wrong with me?” Spoiler alert: nothing’s wrong with you, but don’t take my word for it. Let’s talk about some seriously ancient advice that’s still relevant today: the Bhagavad Gita.
We’ve all been there. That moment when you realize no one seems to see your worth. It could be something as small as an overlooked message or as big as not being considered for an opportunity you know you’re perfect for. The gut punch is familiar: Why am I not valued? You start questioning everything. Maybe it’s you. Maybe you’re not doing enough. Maybe you're too much of this or not enough of that. But the truth is, none of this should matter to you. In fact, if you find yourself constantly measuring your worth based on external validation, you’re getting caught in a trap of your own making. It’s a trap that’s been around for centuries, and it’s one that Lord Krishna spoke about in the Bhagavad Gita—one that still rings true today.
Imagine this: you’re Arjuna, standing on a battlefield. On one side are your friends, your family, your loved ones. On the other side are your ideals, your duty, and the life you know you were meant to live. Your mind is torn. Should you fight or should you run? What will people think of you if you act in a certain way? What will they say about you if you do the right thing but don’t get the praise?
Arjuna's dilemma is not just a physical battle; it’s an existential one. The question isn’t just about winning a war—it’s about knowing if you’re worthy of the fight itself. What Krishna tells Arjuna, and what he’s essentially telling us, is simple yet profound: Don’t measure your value by how others see you. It’s not about their applause, their admiration, or even their critique. It’s about your sense of purpose and duty.
The Bhagavad Gita suggests that true self-worth comes from within. Not from external factors. Not from the person who praises you or the one who dismisses you. Real worth is a quiet, steady knowing of who you are and what you stand for. Krishna tells Arjuna that success or failure isn’t determined by the result of his actions—it’s about doing what’s right, with sincerity, regardless of the outcome.
Think about it: when you act solely to impress others, you’re constantly dependent on their feedback. You’re like a puppet on strings, waiting for the next pull to feel validated. But when you act from a place of internal understanding, when your actions are driven by your values and sense of purpose, you can be free. You are the creator of your worth.
There’s this dangerous notion that we all seem to carry—the idea that our worth is determined by the number of people who recognize our greatness. It’s a lie that’s been sold to us for years, and it’s one that is perpetuated by social media, society’s standards, and even those closest to us. But Krishna doesn’t play into that. Your value doesn’t diminish just because someone else doesn’t recognize it. In fact, if you let their lack of acknowledgment sway your sense of self, you’re giving away your power. You are no longer in control of your worth—it’s being dictated by external factors that have nothing to do with the core of who you are.
And yet, we keep going. We keep seeking validation, trying to prove to others that we matter. The reality is, you matter regardless. And when you start truly believing that—without needing it validated by someone else—that’s when your true power emerges.
Krishna’s teachings revolve around a fundamental truth: it’s not about what others think of you. It’s about what you think of yourself. The Bhagavad Gita isn’t just a call to action; it’s a call to understanding your duty, your purpose, and living in alignment with those truths. When you stop seeking validation from others, something extraordinary happens: you free yourself. You are no longer held hostage by someone else’s opinion of your worth. You can stand firm in your own skin, knowing that your value is inherent—not earned or dependent on anything outside of you.
Think of it this way: when you’re doing what you’re meant to do, you’re not looking around for applause. You’re not checking for recognition or waiting for someone to say, “Good job.” You know it’s good because you’ve lived it, you’ve felt it, and that’s enough.
It matters because constantly seeking external validation is a never-ending cycle. It’s exhausting. It makes you question yourself at every turn. It turns your worth into a moving target. But the truth is, your value doesn’t change based on someone else’s fleeting opinion. You were born valuable. You are the standard, not the other way around.
Krishna’s lesson to Arjuna isn’t just about fighting a battle on a battlefield—it’s about fighting the inner battle that happens when you forget your own worth. It’s about refusing to let others decide how you see yourself. When you accept this, you move differently through the world. You make decisions with a quiet confidence, and your actions reflect an inner truth that no one can shake.
So, the next time you find yourself questioning your worth because someone didn’t recognize your efforts, or worse, dismissed your talents, remember this: they don’t define you. Your worth doesn’t fluctuate based on whether or not people see it. Your worth is already inherent. In the end, Krishna doesn’t just want Arjuna to win the battle. He wants him to win the internal struggle of recognizing his own self-worth. To fight not because of approval, but because it’s his duty. And you? You are worthy simply because you exist.
1. The Root of the Problem: Outsourcing Your Self-Worth
Self worth
( Image credit : Pexels )
Imagine this: you’re Arjuna, standing on a battlefield. On one side are your friends, your family, your loved ones. On the other side are your ideals, your duty, and the life you know you were meant to live. Your mind is torn. Should you fight or should you run? What will people think of you if you act in a certain way? What will they say about you if you do the right thing but don’t get the praise?
Arjuna's dilemma is not just a physical battle; it’s an existential one. The question isn’t just about winning a war—it’s about knowing if you’re worthy of the fight itself. What Krishna tells Arjuna, and what he’s essentially telling us, is simple yet profound: Don’t measure your value by how others see you. It’s not about their applause, their admiration, or even their critique. It’s about your sense of purpose and duty.
2. Self-Worth: A Quiet Confidence, Not an Echo
Likes
( Image credit : Pexels )
The Bhagavad Gita suggests that true self-worth comes from within. Not from external factors. Not from the person who praises you or the one who dismisses you. Real worth is a quiet, steady knowing of who you are and what you stand for. Krishna tells Arjuna that success or failure isn’t determined by the result of his actions—it’s about doing what’s right, with sincerity, regardless of the outcome.
Think about it: when you act solely to impress others, you’re constantly dependent on their feedback. You’re like a puppet on strings, waiting for the next pull to feel validated. But when you act from a place of internal understanding, when your actions are driven by your values and sense of purpose, you can be free. You are the creator of your worth.
3. Stop Letting Others Define You
Happiness
( Image credit : Pexels )
There’s this dangerous notion that we all seem to carry—the idea that our worth is determined by the number of people who recognize our greatness. It’s a lie that’s been sold to us for years, and it’s one that is perpetuated by social media, society’s standards, and even those closest to us. But Krishna doesn’t play into that. Your value doesn’t diminish just because someone else doesn’t recognize it. In fact, if you let their lack of acknowledgment sway your sense of self, you’re giving away your power. You are no longer in control of your worth—it’s being dictated by external factors that have nothing to do with the core of who you are.
And yet, we keep going. We keep seeking validation, trying to prove to others that we matter. The reality is, you matter regardless. And when you start truly believing that—without needing it validated by someone else—that’s when your true power emerges.
4. A Higher Calling: Find Your Purpose, Not Your Applause
Give back
( Image credit : Pexels )
Krishna’s teachings revolve around a fundamental truth: it’s not about what others think of you. It’s about what you think of yourself. The Bhagavad Gita isn’t just a call to action; it’s a call to understanding your duty, your purpose, and living in alignment with those truths. When you stop seeking validation from others, something extraordinary happens: you free yourself. You are no longer held hostage by someone else’s opinion of your worth. You can stand firm in your own skin, knowing that your value is inherent—not earned or dependent on anything outside of you.
Think of it this way: when you’re doing what you’re meant to do, you’re not looking around for applause. You’re not checking for recognition or waiting for someone to say, “Good job.” You know it’s good because you’ve lived it, you’ve felt it, and that’s enough.
5. Why Does This Matter?
True self
( Image credit : Pexels )
It matters because constantly seeking external validation is a never-ending cycle. It’s exhausting. It makes you question yourself at every turn. It turns your worth into a moving target. But the truth is, your value doesn’t change based on someone else’s fleeting opinion. You were born valuable. You are the standard, not the other way around.
Krishna’s lesson to Arjuna isn’t just about fighting a battle on a battlefield—it’s about fighting the inner battle that happens when you forget your own worth. It’s about refusing to let others decide how you see yourself. When you accept this, you move differently through the world. You make decisions with a quiet confidence, and your actions reflect an inner truth that no one can shake.