Article February 1, 1999 Issue

HOW CAN I MEASURE UP?

Melanie Ann Wahlberg

An experience I had in college taught me a lesson about the benefit of measuring self-worth from a spiritual standpoint. I had enrolled in what turned out to be a very difficult mathematics course, requiring hours of study and preparation. Classmates had also become quite competitive, possessive of their notes and jealous of others' test scores.

One evening while preparing for an examination, I felt almost paralyzed by feelings of inadequacy. I alternated between attempting to study and bemoaning my lack of intellect. When the telephone rang, I answered reluctantly, not wanting to interrupt my work.

The cheery voice at the other end was my mother's. As she filled me in with news from home, it dawned on me that she knew nothing about my all-consuming test. She had called simply to express love toward me, a love that included a complete trust in my abilities. That trust helped me see my situation from a fresh perspective.

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