Writers 
Honestly, I am tired of hearing “know your worth” used as an excuse for almost everything these days.
A woman gets into a relationship and says, “I know my worth,” because she doesn’t want to compromise on anything.
A man gets into a relationship and says, “I know what I bring to the table,” while expecting his woman to tolerate his bad behaviour because he pays the bills.
Everybody knows their worth now.
But apparently nobody knows their responsibilities.
A woman wants a financially stable man, but she doesn’t want to contribute anything meaningful to the relationship.
A man wants a submissive woman, but he thinks providing money gives him permission to disrespect her.
A woman says, “I deserve better,” after cheating.
A man says, “Men will always be men,” after cheating.
Someone refuses to apologise because, “I have boundaries.”
Someone refuses to accept correction because, “I’m protecting my peace.”
Someone treats people terribly and calls it self-respect.
Someone walks away from every difficult conversation and calls it knowing their worth.
Please.
Sometimes you don’t need to know your worth.
Sometimes you need to know that YOU ARE WRONG.
And that’s the part social media doesn’t like teaching us.
Not every man who disagrees with you is controlling.
Not every woman who challenges you is disrespectful.
Not every relationship that requires compromise is toxic.
Not every uncomfortable conversation is abuse.
Not everyone who tells you the truth is jealous of you.
And not every person you lose was “too small for your destiny.”
Sometimes you were simply the problem.
A man can be wrong.
A woman can be wrong.
A husband can be wrong.
A wife can be wrong.
A parent can be wrong.
A child can be wrong.
An elder can be wrong.
Being wrong doesn’t cancel your worth.
But refusing to admit you’re wrong because you’ve convinced yourself that you’re “too valuable to tolerate anything” is exactly how people become unbearable.
We’ve created a culture where everybody wants a partner who is emotionally mature, financially stable, loyal, respectful, ambitious, supportive and understanding.
But when you ask them what they bring into the relationship, suddenly it’s:
“I am the prize.”
Prize for what?
A man wants a woman who respects him, but he doesn’t know how to respect her.
A woman wants a man who provides, but she has never learned how to build with someone.
A man demands loyalty while entertaining other women.
A woman demands honesty while hiding things from her partner.
Both genders want patience while having no patience for anyone.
Both want understanding while refusing to understand.
Both want forgiveness while keeping a record of every mistake their partner has ever made.
And then we wonder why relationships are becoming harder.
Everybody is busy calculating what they deserve and nobody is calculating what they owe.
Know your worth.
Absolutely.
But also know your character.
Know your weaknesses.
Know your responsibilities.
Know how to apologise.
Know how to compromise.
Know how to communicate.
Know how to admit when you are wrong.
Because sometimes the person you keep calling “toxic” isn’t toxic.
Sometimes they are simply the first person who refused to keep enabling you.
And maybe that’s why you’re angry.
We don’t need more people who know their worth.
We need people who know their worth without becoming entitled, selfish, impossible to correct or incapable of accountability.
Because self-worth without self-awareness can easily become self-importance.
And that’s not empowerment.
That’s just ego with a motivational quote attached to it.
