Self-respect
- Ekta Dodhia
- Jul 27, 2020
- 3 min read
Edited by Parita Nagaria
I feel like self-respect is the most self-explanatory term compared to all the other topics on my blog, and yet, it is the least practiced. Society usually demands respect for everyone around us, and still, they do not teach us the importance of respecting oneself. But the truth is, if you want to be truly happy and live life on your own terms, you need to practice self-love and have high self-confidence as well as self-esteem. However, to exercise any of these, self-respect is paramount. You need to be able to respect your feelings, emotions, and beliefs to truly understand, improve, and love yourself and your life. Self-respect is the foundation of all the decisions you make as well as how you handle yourself and how you allow others to treat you.
But why is self-respect important? Everyone has certain beliefs and boundaries that they deem right, and self-respect allows you to make decisions that uphold these beliefs. It prevents you from doing things you would usually look down upon because you value yourself and your fundamental thoughts more than you value anything else. It helps you live life with dignity and honor.
So, how can we practice self-respect?
Respect your beliefs and values
The type of person you are is defined by the core beliefs you hold. Not allowing anybody to make you do something that goes against these values is a way of showing self-respect. You may lose people from your life when you do this, but chances are, they are not happy that they can no longer use you for their selfish purposes. The only exception to this rule should be if the suggestions of others will help you become a better person.
Set boundaries
Learn to differentiate between what makes you comfortable or uncomfortable. Listen to your heart, brain, and body. Set boundaries that help you avoid situations that make you feel uneasy or less happy. And, remember to stick to them! You can not let others decide these boundaries for you. You have to determine these for yourself. For example, you are allowed to say no to wearing a bikini when going to the beach even though your friends are planning on wearing one and keep insisting that you do the same. You only have to do what you feel comfortable doing. Always respect your boundaries because this is the only way you will truly enjoy the moment. And, standing up for yourself also prevents people from taking advantage of you.
Make your own decisions.
Doing this will help you determine what is important to you. It will help you set your priorities and make a plan on how to achieve your goals and dreams. Also, you need to balance yourself well. Know your priorities as they are significant to decision making. Your priorities will change with time, but as long as you keep doing what makes you happy, I guarantee that you will be making the right decisions. Making your own decisions will allow you to make mistakes and learn from them. I am sure you’ve heard that failures are the stepping stones to success! One thing you must ensure is that nobody should be allowed to deter you from your goals. When you have your unique way of looking at life, you will better understand the rights from the wrongs, and your daily conversations will become more pleasurable. You will automatically earn respect from your friends, family, and peers.
Forget about pleasing everyone
Make yourself happy before you try to make others happy. You can only make others happy when you are happy yourself. After all, you can’t pour from an empty mug. There will always be someone who is going to be unhappy with you for one reason or another. The people that genuinely care about you will be happy for you no matter what. And the ones that are upset with you for putting yourself first, are the ones that can no longer take advantage of you. Above all, if no one goes out of their way to make you happy, then you don’t have to either. People usually admire those that have the courage of choosing their happiness over others and will take them more seriously.
Respecting yourself shows that you know your worth and therefore, you will have an aura that demands respect from others around you. It is human nature to want to be well respected, but if you do not respect yourself, then how can you expect others to respect you. And, how will you truly respect other people? Just like the saying goes, “You can’t like another person until you like yourself”.
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