The worth of things—and in a deeper sense, our own worth—doesn’t fluctuate with praise or criticism.

So why do we often find ourselves craving recognition for our accomplishments or qualities?

The projects you pour hours into at work, the care you invest in your friendships or family, the effort you put into self-improvement—do they become any less valuable if they go unrecognized by others? Obviously not.

Your hard work isn't like an Instagram post, counting on likes to affirm its worth. Like an emerald's inherent beauty or the untouched craftsmanship of a lyre (a type of harp), their true quality is constant, inherent.

So the next time you're tempted to measure your worth by others' applause (or lack thereof), pause and remember the emerald: quiet, unassuming, yet eternally exquisite. Isn’t there something within you that is of value, regardless of who else sees it?