Self-Worth in Times of Chaos

Self-Worth in Times of Rupture and Chaos

• John Niland

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As Mark Carney said in Davos: “We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition.” Life feels that way now—chaotic, unpredictable, and messy. In this transition episode to Self-Worth in Times of Chaos, I set the scene for the series, exploring how life’s ruptures spill across work, relationships, family, and health—and how a strong sense of self-worth can act as a stabiliser.

I share reflections from people living through their own ruptures, and invite you to join the conversation. This series isn’t about quick fixes or frameworks; it’s about real stories from the messy middle, where life is challenging, and insights about self-worth can be most powerful.

Do you have a story to share? Know someone navigating chaos? Reach out and let’s explore what it takes to hold onto your self-worth when the world feels out of control.

Listen in to understand:

  • Why chaos rarely stays in one corner of your life
  • How self-worth helps people navigate uncertainty
  • How this podcast will explore real stories from those living through life’s ruptures

For contact details (including Associates) and useful self-worth resources, see www.SelfWorthAcademy.com

John Niland:

As Mark Carney said in his recent Davos speech, we're in the midst of a rupture, not a transition. Think about that for a moment. A rupture, not a transition. Not a shift or a change or an evolution, but a rupture. Something breaking apart. That's the world we're living in right now.

John Niland:

And it's not just politics or economics. Chaos has a way of creeping into just every aspect of life. This decade's already been quite chaotic. Pandemic, lockdowns, cost of living crisis, advent of AI. And there's every indication that the years ahead are going to bring even more chaos, more disruption, more unpredictability.

John Niland:

For quite a few months now, I've been reflecting on what it means to live through these ruptures. And I've been talking to the people who are experiencing them firsthand, people like you and me and the people we know. For some it's work-related, for others it's family related, sometimes it's health related. Often it's not just one rupture at a time. Life has a way of cascading chaos. Work chaos can spill into relationship chaos, can spill into family chaos, which can spill into health chaos. And the truth is, it's almost impossible to ring fence these domains. Chaos is contagious, it spreads, and it tests us in ways we often don't expect.

John Niland:

And yet I've noticed something remarkable. The people who manage to navigate these turbulent waters, the ones that keep moving forward even when everything feels unstable, they all share a common thread, a solid sense of self-worth.

John Niland:

Now, to be clear, self-worth isn't self-esteem. We're not talking about achievements or accolades or what other people think of you. Self-worth is much deeper. It's unconditional. It's that quiet, steady knowledge that you're inherently valuable no matter what happens in work or in relationships or in life. That sense of worth becomes a stabilizer when chaos comes knocking.

John Niland:

In the episodes that follow, you're going to hear stories from people living through this chaos. But more importantly, you're going to hear how they hold on to that sense of self, of inherent value, and how it helps them to navigate the mess, the uncertainty, and the ruptures.

John Niland:

Let me give you an example. I spoke recently with a woman who had just lost her job unexpectedly. She was living through one of these ruptures. For her, it wasn't just a job, it was the identity, the stability, the financial considerations, the routine. And the ripple effects touched on just about every aspect of her life. But she told me something that struck me. She said, I don't need to fix everything at once. Instead, she started her day with a very simple routine, taking a moment to remind herself every morning that her value doesn't depend on her job. And in this moment, she would think of three to five people that she was going to reach out to that day. This simple act of recognizing her self-worth gave her the confidence to reach out, to explore new opportunities, and slowly begin to regain control of her life.

John Niland:

This is the kind of insight we'll be exploring in the episodes that follow. Practical, real-life ways that self-worth can help in the middle of chaos, not just as a framework or as an aspiration, definitely not just a quick fix, but as a stabilizing force.

John Niland:

Right. This is where you come in. I'm reaching out to you, the person listening right now. Who do you know who's living through their own chaos as we speak? Who has a story that could help others to see what's possible in this messy middle? I have about 20 guests lined up so far, but there's definitely room for more. This series isn't about neat solutions or polished frameworks. We want real human stories, real struggles, and genuine insights. This messy middle is exactly where we want to be. Maybe that's you. Maybe it's someone you know. In either case, I'd love to hear from you.

John Niland:

Feel free to reach out, share your story, or point somebody my way. Because the value in this series comes from lived experience, from the people who are in the thick of it and discovering what self-worth really means in practice.

John Niland:

So, what can you expect from the episodes to come? Well, you'll hear stories of rupture, big and small, personal and work. You'll hear about job loss and health crisis and relationship upheavals and family pressures. And time and time again, you'll hear how a sense of self-worth, not external validation or achievements, help people to navigate these changes.

John Niland:

We'll be exploring questions like how do you hold on to that sense of self-worth when everything is falling apart around you? How do you respond to chaos without losing yourself? And what are the practical steps from day to day that you can take to stabilize life even when the external world feels out of control? And while we won't be offering fixes, because the truth is life is rarely fixed, we will, however, be exploring insights and inspiration from people who have lived through chaos and come out stronger on the other side.

John Niland:

So thank you for joining me today in this transition episode. I'm excited to share the journey with you. If you're listening and you have a story to tell, or you know someone whose story deserves to be told, I'd love to hear from you. Please reach out and let's explore what self worth looks like in the middle of chaos together. Because in the end, self worth isn't just a nice idea. In times of rupture, it's a real lifeline.