What Is Your Market Value?

Can I share a secret with you? I LOVE to shop. So much so, that whenever I travel, I usually carry an empty suitcase and include a trip to the mall on my itinerary. One rule I always try to keep in mind is never pay full price, because everything is negotiable and eventually goes on sale.

Recently while shopping at a high-end department store in Atlanta I noticed the store was offering an additional twenty-percent off the lowest markdown price on items that were on the clearance racks in the aisles. In true Lisa fashion, I quickly scoured those racks, looking for a great deal. But as I checked the racks for my size, I couldn't help but notice the clothes I was walking on that were carelessly scattered on the floor. Those clothes were originally priced from $100 and up, and were now on the floor being walked on and kicked around by shoppers like cheap, thrift store merchandise. I’m sure they were handled meticulously and treated with great care when they were selling at full price. But the lower selling price had somehow cheapened their value, and shoppers changed how they perceived them.

That’s the same thing that happens to us. The higher the value we place on ourselves, the better people treat us. A high sense of self-worth also results in healthy relationships.

On the other hand, there are events in life--divorce, job loss--that can knock us down and make us feel like those clothes on the floor: WORTHLESS. And when we don't feel worthy of love and respect, we tolerate being kicked around. But we're all priceless, no matter what happens to us. Even when we're down, we're not out. We must not allow ourselves to feel cheapened if our net worth decreases due to the loss of a house, car or job.

A few years ago I attended a lecture that began with the leader holding up a $20 dollar bill, and asking:

Who wants this 20 dollar bill?

Several hands went up, but the lecturer said: Before handing it over, there’s something I must do. He furiously crushed it, and asked again:
Who still wants this bill?

The hands continued raised. And what if I do this? He threw it against the wall, letting it fall to the floor, kicked it, stamped on it and again held up the bill, all dirty and crumpled.

He repeated the question, and the hands continued to be held high. "You must not ever forget this scene," said the lecturer. "No matter what I do with this money, it’ll still be a $20 dollar bill. Many times in our lives, we are crushed, stamped on, kicked, maltreated, offended; however, in spite of this, we are still worth the same."

As we must continue to trudge ahead in this economy, we must continue to look inward to define our true market value. No matter how crushed we are, we are still worth the same.

I am Lisa Maria Carroll, reminding you to take the brakes off God, and watch Him do exceedingly abundantly above all you can ask or think.