Self-respect, self-esteem, and self-love go hand in hand. Even if you have a healthy self-esteem or love who you are, you still need to respect yourself because it affects the choices you make, how you treat yourself, and how others treat you. Having self-respect means knowing who you are and acting upon it. Here are 8 things that will happen when you start to respect yourself:
You will not tolerate mediocrity
When you respect yourself enough, you will not settle for less than you deserve. You will refuse to be treated like a doormat. You will not care about people who cannot see your worth, tolerate any type of abuse, or stay in situations that suck the life out of you. Instead, you will be able to recognise mediocrity and pull away from anything that wastes both your energy and time.
You will not sacrifice your values
You will fight for your beliefs and values. If you believe that friendship should come first, you will not let anyone rush you into a relationship. If you think it’s important to have a balance between work and life, you will not let yourself become a slave just to prove your worth. If you don’t condone alcohol consumption, you will not let anyone talk you into it.
You will not let anyone belittle your passions
If you have interests that your family disapprove of, you will not let their discouragement stop you from pursuing them. You will not stay in a relationship with someone who makes fun of your dreams or does not support your passions in life. You will never sacrifice your interests and hobbies for anyone.
You will not be easily manipulated
Without self-respect, you are prone to being overly trusting. When you fully respect yourself, you will not be desperate for attention or love. You will be able to act on your gut or instinct and you will never turn a blind eye to red flags. You will not let too much hope cloud your judgment or anyone make a fool out of you.
Related: 5 Types Of Negative Friends You Should Avoid
You will not lose yourself in a relationship
You will not let yourself resort to being someone you are not or pretend to like something just to keep someone interested in you. You will not put your own life, family and friends, or hobbies aside and let your world revolve around your partner. You will set your own limits or boundaries and ensure that your individuality is never compromised.
You will not dismiss your own needs for others
You will not be a people-pleaser and the needs of others will not come before yours. You will put yourself first and you will not sacrifice your own needs for anyone. You will not force yourself to do something just to make someone happy. Your happiness will be your priority and you will not settle for anything that does not bring you joy.
You will not care about what other people think
If you respect yourself and your wants or needs, you will not care about what others think of you. You will not have the need for acceptance because you are comfortable with who you are. You won’t rely on other people’s approval either because you are confident enough to make your own decisions.
Related: 21 Characteristics Of A Mentally Strong Person
You will not be afraid of challenges
You will not let your fears and doubts stop you from living life to the fullest. You will get out of your comfort zone and seek for new experiences that can broaden your horizons. You will have confidence in your own abilities, you will be more comfortable with who you are, and you will learn to trust yourself more.
“Our self-respect tracks our choices. Every time we act in harmony with our authentic self and our heart, we earn our respect. It is that simple. Every choice matters.” – Dan Coppersmith
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