Have you ever experienced a day when a lot of things went really well for you? Have you experienced a day in which you handled everything that came your way just superbly? Perhaps, before I get too carried away, let me just say, "Have you ever had a really great day?"

How did you feel about yourself at the end of that great day? Did you take pride in your achievements? Did you feel confident in your abilities? Did you value yourself more than the day before? Did you feel more worthy?

On the other hand, have you ever had a lousy day, in which it seemed like nothing went right for you? Have you had a day in which you made a number of mistakes? At the end of that lousy day, how did you feel about yourself? You probably felt less confident and less worthy than the day before.

It is perfectly normal to feel good when we do things right or when things go well, just as it is normal to feel a little discouraged when we don't do things right or when things don't go well. But, your self-image and your self worth should never, ever, be based on what you do or what you don't do.

People often base their low self-image on things they do or fail to do. They say things like, "Darn it, why'd I do that?" or "Oh, why didn't I do that?"

Perhaps you have heard the statement, "You are not what you do." I believe that statement is true, but there are countless people who just do not believe it. They refer to themselves, and to others, by what they do. They label themselves and other people by saying things like, "He's an accountant," or "she's an advertising rep." They say, "I'm a cook" and "He's an athlete."

All of those statements just list occupations. And, if you base your self worth on what you are doing, then what happens to your self worth when you no longer do it anymore? For example, suppose you were a major league baseball pitcher. If you based your self worth on that alone, what happens when it is time to retire? Then what would you think of yourself? What kind of self- esteem and self worth would you have then?

You are not what you do!

Match making services remind people that if you are looking for a long term relationship then you need to look at who the person is, not what they do. They tell their clients that what makes people fall in love is "who" you are, not, "what you do."

But you and I know that for so many, many people, their self worth and their self- identity is based on their job and their corresponding income. It's a good thing that one of our greatest presidents did not have that kind of an attitude.

He came from a very poor family, had a hard life, and was unsuccessful. His business failed twice and he went bankrupt. During a period of 26 years, he was defeated 9 times for the legislature, Congress, and the United States Senate.

But, he was elected as our 16th President. And, Lincoln once said, "The path was worn and slippery, my foot slipped from under me, knocking the other out of the way, but I recovered and said to myself, it is a slip and not a fall."

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