That little voice in your head that keeps track of every mistake you make also keeps track of all of your accomplishments. Our internal dialogue is important for our self-confidence, self-respect, and personal development. Just like we judge others and respect them based on how they act and treat us, we should evaluate ourselves and do the same. We wouldn’t respect someone that points out our insecurities. We wouldn’t respect someone that treats us poorly and calls us names. So let’s not do it to ourselves!
Self-respect is an aspect of the self that is the foundation for our honor, dignity, and perception of ourselves. Respecting ourselves means taking the time to recognize our value and potential as a human being. Our focus should be goal-oriented and success-driven. When we regard ourselves in a positive light, it affects our self-esteem, and in turn, our interactions with others. After all, the voice in our head is in charge of how we perceive and regard ourselves. We should treat ourselves like we do our best friend. If you find yourself struggling with self-esteem, perception, or respect, this article is for you! This article will outline three of the simplest steps for you to gain self-respect.
Find People Who Validate You
Self-respect includes surrounding yourself with people who care about you. The opinions of our friends and family have a more significant impact on our lives than we might think. It is important to feel validated and supported by the people closest to you. If your family and friends are constantly berating you about your choices or your ideas, it might be time to cut some relationships off. Toxic relationships are in their very nature damaging to the soul. These negative relationships may impair the way we view ourselves and might affect our life choices. This could look like a parent shaming their child for their sexual preference. Toxic relationships could also look like manipulation, lying, or using you at the expense of a joke.
Self-respect means leaving the table when you are no longer being served. It is empowering and refreshing to have family and friends that support you no matter what the circumstance is. Take some time to evaluate the people you surround yourself with, and decide if they add positivity to your life. Reflect on the people that boost your self-esteem and make you feel validated. These relationships are the ones you need to hold on to with an iron grip.
Keep Up With Hygiene
While this tip may seem mundane, hygiene is a key source of self-respect. Do you brush your teeth every morning and every night? Do you wear a retainer or keep up with haircut appointments? Do you take the time to put together healthy meals? The small details that hygiene encompasses can really make a difference in everyday life. Let’s say someone is lacking motivation and decides to sleep in and not brush their teeth or shower. This “lazy morning” quickly turns into a “lazy day” when this person decides to also not do their laundry or cook a healthy meal.
Whatever the reason for the lazy day was, the individual experiences a lack of reward due to a lack of motivating factors. This subtle pattern can easily turn into a downward spiral into depression. The tasks for the day seem too long, and personal hygiene seems like a giant chore. Cleaning and taking care of yourself seems like too much to handle, so back to the bed you go. The next day, all of the same tasks will be waiting. The result leads to poor hygiene and decreased self-respect. Keeping up with day-to-day hygiene is critical in maintaining a healthy routine. We feel our best when we are clean and fresh, and our day ahead looks promising because we are ready for it.
Work on Excelling in Your Strengths
Many people tend to feel discouraged when they cannot perform as well as they would like to. A large amount of the population is working at jobs that they never pictured themselves in. Their strengths lie somewhere else, but the convenience of their current job makes it feel impossible to follow their dreams. The result ends in a feeling of emptiness and lack of satisfaction because their job is not bringing them satisfaction. At the end of the workday, the goal should be to feel satisfied and happy with the work that has been completed.
Sadly, this is not the case for many. The downcast feeling that many people experience, from work, friendships, or school, could be because they are not performing in the area they excel in. They are trying to fit into a box that was never meant for a circle. When we discuss building up self-esteem and creating a foundation for self-respect, this means using the skills and abilities you already have and using them to your advantage. The strengths you possess can come in handy for events like making new friendships, participating in sports, or getting a new job. Personality traits like extroversion, honesty, compassion, and loyalty are great to lean on when meeting new people or looking for a new job. Abilities such as flexibility, athleticism, intelligence, and creativity are key examples of strengths that you can recognize and pursue.
Self-respect is a key aspect of interpersonal well-being. The foundations of self-respect are useful for allowing yourself the way you want to be, not the way other people want you to be. A strong sense of self is critical so that differing opinions or hurtful comments do not diminish your self-worth. The best ways to begin self-respect are by finding people that validate you, keeping up with hygiene, excelling in your strengths and stopping to think. A life without self-respect is difficult and unmanageable. Low self-worth can quickly lead to symptoms of anxiety or depression. If you or a loved one is experiencing feelings of worthlessness or need to talk with a mental health specialist, we are here to help. At SokyaHealth, we understand how it feels to be alone, and we want to make sure you get the help you need. If you would like more information, we would be happy to talk with you. To schedule a free consultation with SokyaHealth, contact us today at (866) 657-6592.
