I'm a hazard to myself

Part of my personal mission statement is that I will never let my self worth be determined by anyone other than myself. A stumbling block to this, that I've recently realized, is that you first need to be able to properly value yourself. Easier said than done, I think. No matter how much I pump myself up and try to convince myself that I am worth a certain level of something (depending on the situation), I always end up low-balling. I can even rehearse the exact response in my head 100 times, and when it comes out of my mouth it's different, slightly under par.

Why I am afraid to pursue what I truly think I deserve? If only I could be one of those people who can walk into any situation and confidently say 'This is what I'm after and I won't be satisfied with less'... (Do those people ever miss out on amazing opportunities because they were too stubborn to see them for what they are?)

To be fair I have gotten much better lately, standing my ground when push comes to shove. But at the intersection of dreams and reality, we all know which one usually wins. What kinds of things are ok to settle for, and what should you never compromise on? I am a firm believer that things always work out for the best... eventually. But I guess the kicker is whether or not you have the patience to let things run their natural course. Try to force it, or rush it, and it always blows up in your face.

I'm hoping that in the next week things will become a lot clearer. Until then, I'll do my best to remain patient and steadfast. How do the pessimists of the world survive the unknown?!