Howard's Laws Of Human Worth

I've recently begun to read a fantastic book about Self Esteem. It's called "The Self-Esteem Workbook" by Glenn R. Schiraldi. I'm not even close to finshing it (it contains a good amount of exercises and it is not recommended to just skip through the chapters to have a full effect on your Self-Esteem level) but what struck me in a deep way were 5 Axioms called "Howard's Laws Of Human Worth" developed by psychiatrist Claudia A. Howard in 1992.

Self-Worth plays an important role for your own happiness

In his Book Schiraldi defines unconditional worth using these five axioms :


1. All have infinite, internal, eternal, and unconditional worth as persons.

2. All have equal worth as people. Worth is not comparative or competitive. Although you might be better at sports, academics, or business, and I might be better in social skills, we both have equal worth as human beings.

3. Externals neither add to nor diminish worth. Externals include things like money, looks, performance, and achievements. These only increase one’s market or social worth. Worth as a person, however, is infinite and unchanging.

4. Worth is stable and never in jeopardy (even if someone rejects you.)

5. Worth doesn’t have to be earned or proved. It already exists. Just recognize, accept and appreciate it.



I was absolutely stunned when I read these 5 simple concepts about human worth. Thinking about and internalizing these 5 Axioms will help you to get a good picture of what self worth looks like and that you and everyone else has infinite worth on a personal level. Self Esteem plays a very important role in our daily lives, overall decision making and our level of personal happiness.


I wish you all a nice day!


Marc