Another Healthful tip with Art - What to do When You Feel Unseen

  When You Feel Unseen: Rewriting the “I Am Not Valued” Story

Perceptions are stories that we tell ourselves in our head.   For example, you are on a bike ride and come upon a steep hill.   It is just a hill; but, the story you tell yourself about that hill will determine how you feel when you ride up that hill.  Do you see it as a welcome challenge?  Or, and exhausting part of your trip?  We are constantly creating stories, or adding to ones that were created in our earlier years.

 Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt, 

• Unseen

• Overlooked

• Unappreciated

• Ignored

• Dismissed

• Forgotten

• Unacknowledged

• Undervalued

• Neglected

• Disregarded

• Invisible

• Taken for granted

• Disrespected

• Devalued

• Small

• Unimportant

 Many people have and to this day carry an invisible wound—the belief that they are “not valued.”

Let's talk about this and then how we can use our creativity to rewrite that story!

Perceptions 

When a situation triggers this perception, it can feel like an emotional sting deep inside. Hurt rises quickly, and the instinct may be to shut down—slipping into silence, retreating from connection, or mentally saying, “If you can’t put me first, then I won’t put you first either.”

This is often more than a fleeting thought—it’s a deep belief wound. It sits beneath the surface and gets “lit up” by certain situations. When it does, here’s what’s often happening:

1. Core Belief: “I am not valued.”

This isn’t just a passing idea—it’s a belief that has been reinforced over time, likely through past experiences where someone truly felt overlooked, dismissed, or unappreciated. When a current situation even slightly resembles those earlier experiences, the brain “pulls the old file” and reacts as if it’s happening all over again.

2. Protective Reaction

Thoughts like, “If you can’t put me first, I won’t put you first,” are self-protection strategies. They create distance, withhold care, or prompt withdrawal. This grumpy silence acts like armor, keeping others far enough away to prevent further hurt.

3. Emotional Cycle

• Trigger: Someone’s action or inaction feels like a lack of value.

• Belief Activation: “See? I’m not valued.”

• Emotional Pain: Hurt, resentment, withdrawal.

• Behavior: Shut down, avoid connection.

• Reinforcement: The distance makes the belief seem even truer (“If they valued me, they’d reach out”).

4. What Could Be Happening Spiritually & Emotionally

The “I am not valued” belief often grows from early life patterns where love or affirmation felt conditional. Spiritually, it’s also a place where the enemy loves to whisper lies—because if he can convince someone they are not valued, they will pull away from the very relationships and opportunities God is calling them into.

5. Path Toward Change

Overcoming this belief requires working at both levels:

• Heal the root belief — Replace “I am not valued” with God’s truth about your worth.

• Shift the reactive habit — Choose a different response when the old trigger appears.

Ideas to Try:

• Catch the Trigger Early: When you feel that familiar sting, pause and say, “This is my ‘not valued’ button being pushed.”

• Counter With Truth: “God delights in me. My value is not determined by their actions.”

• Act Opposite to the Urge: If your instinct is to retreat, try staying present, even in a small way. This begins to rewire the pattern.

• Process It Creatively: Use art or journaling to express the hurt—without directing it at the person. This releases the emotional weight in a safe way.

   

Why One Journal Page Isn’t Enough

A deeply rooted hurt is not erased with a single journaling session. Beliefs are like well-worn paths in the mind—changing them takes repetition and intention. The process is two-fold:

1. Release the Old: Continually identify and let go of the false story.

2. Emphasize the New: Keep reaffirming God’s truth about your worth.

With time, the old story fades, and a new, beautifully true perception comes into focus—one that sees value as something unshakable and divinely given.

🎨 Creative Exercise: Rewriting the “Not Valued” Story

Step 1: Name the Old Belief
Write "I am not valued" in the center of your journal page—acknowledge it without agreeing with it.

Step 2: Surround It With Color
Cover the words with colors that represent God’s love—soft blues, radiant gold, joyful pink—whatever feels uplifting. Let it be messy and expressive.

Step 3: Write the Truth Over It
Add this Creative Reminder boldly across the page:
"My value is secure in God’s heart. I am seen, chosen, and loved without condition."

Here is another Creative Reminder right out of the "Feeling Not Valued" (Relationships and More) section of our Creative Reminders Library.     

"I acknowledge the sadness in my heart and the times I have felt ignored, or left out, where thoughts of being not valued and unappreciated have taken root. I recognize these feelings and release them with compassion for myself. I trust that God will guide me through life's uncertainties, bringing calm and peace to my spirit. I forgive those who have unknowingly caused me pain and choose to move forward with a renewed sense of appreciation for the adaptability and strength that God has blessed me with.

I reset my mind to focus on my desire to live like Jesus Christ, serving others and offering help where it is needed. My value comes from knowing that I am in tune with the whisperings of the Spirit, guiding me toward love, peace, and fulfillment.

I am worthy, I am loved, and I am grateful for the growth I am experiencing on this journey."

Step 4: Anchor It in Your Day
Repetition is the Key!  Place your journal somewhere visible. Each time the old feeling returns, revisit the page, or write it on a card that can be packed with you.....read your reminder aloud, and take a slow, grounding breath.  The more you read and repeat these new thoughts, the quicker a new thought pattern will begin to grow and eliminate the old, familiar pattern.

💛 Final Thought
You may not be able to prevent every moment that stirs up this feeling, but you can decide how to meet it. Each time you replace the old lie with truth, you’re teaching your heart a new way to see.

Your value is settled.
No one and nothing can take it away.

CLICK HERE Watch the free video class and follow along with me. 

Watch the video as I created this project in my studio live.  You can also purchase the pattern to create these geraniums if you so choose.   (NOTE:  I do not demo these quotes because they are only found in my communities Grow Joy Journaling class.  You can choose your own quotes that fit you personally and add to your image.)