It is fortunate to be favored with praise and popularity. It is dire luck to be dependent on the feelings of your fellow man.

---

Reading the Norse Sagas and Edda's around the fire in my long hall whilst sipping mead from a horn-cup always brings me value and relevant meaning; I thought to share some.

_{I don't actually have a Viking long hall, but I have a fire and mead so it works. Either way, the reading is valuable. I've been putting together a raiding party holiday with Britain as the destination. I've gathered a few warriors and shield maidens for the army however I'm always looking for more. If you, or anyone you know, might be interested in raiding visiting Britain in the not too distant future comment below. No prior experience is required as on the job training will be provided however it would be advantageous for applicants to possess the following attributes: Sword and axe skills, ability to form the shield wall and to row a long boat. It should be a great time although your safety cannot be guaranteed. If you die we'll give you a rousing send-off though. original im src}

---

This week's Viking quote

It is fortunate to be favored with praise and popularity. It is dire luck to be dependent on the feelings of your fellow man. - The Hávamál

Self worth seems to be elusive these days, at least without a prop to support it: The latest iPhone, pair of shoes, hand bag, fragrance or make up, gaming console, latest car, computer, camera, new item of clothing, or Facebook likes and so on. You get the idea. It seems clear that people attach their feeling of self worth to the items they purchase and places they go. Thanks consumerism and social media. It mostly seems like people look outwardly for their feelings of self esteem and I don't think that's valid.

I know people who simply won't go to a particular place because being seen there wouldn't be good for their image. Wankers. It's the same with, let me pick an easy target, mobile phones. People line up at the store overnight to be one of the first to get the latest version...You know, the brand new blue one. Why? So they can say they have the latest and the feeling of self worth they obtain through it. That works nicely until the next version comes out a few months later with an extra 0.1 mega pixels of camera capacity or some such nutbaggery. And then? They're depressed they don't have the latest.

Self worth isn't about iPhones, likes on Facebook and the latest consumer product though; it comes from inside. I mean true and lasting self worth.

That fleeting moment of self worth and validation one gets from those other superficial things is never going to last. One needs to jump from thing to thing to feed that beast and no matter how much one shovels into that maw the beast can't be sated.

In fact, in my opinion, this constant drive for external validation and self worth that relies upon social standing and other people will only ever end in unhappiness and discontent; regret too I guess if someone was to see the error of their ways later down the track, and regret is a poor companion.

Getting the latest thing may bring that momentary spike of validity or self worth but how does one feel when a new phone [for instance] comes out six months later and one is on a 24 month payment-contract for the older version? Not so good. Stuck with old technology...Self worth plummets downwards and that prompts credit spending; a slippery slope indeed. Som best to find self worth and validation independantly of things and other people.

Each of us must find it within ourselves to generate self worth that lasts and for all of us that will probably look differently. I'll admit that it can be difficult - especially when a person seeks it from material things - but once found it's glorious and will endure.

We live in a very egotistical society, certainly more so than when Vikings were around. I'm sure they had their share of ego-driven people though, they were human after all. These days we're bombarded with images and concepts that blatantly indicate we're not quite good enough without this product or that, the latest thing.

Well, I digress. We are good enough. You are and I are good enough just as we are. We just need to clear away the fog of consumerism and see it. Finding self worth internally is empowering and it's self-sustaining meaning it compounds. Seeking it is worth the effort and letting go of hubris, ego and greed is way to begin the journey.

This is how I've chosen to think about this quote today however there's many other ways to see it I guess and if you would like to give me your opinion below in the comments I'll be really pleased. Agree with me or not, it doesn't matter, just get involved.

---

Skol.