Self-Respect
We often find it very hard to give ourselves the respect we deserve. For some reason, we feel that honoring ourselves is not important. We let others dump dirt on us all the time, and take it without comment. We allow people to hurt, manipulate, abuse, disrespect, bully or control us. We take ourselves for granted.
Now, give the following sentence a moment's thought, allow it to fully sink in, before you proceed. Each time we treat ourselves with disrespect or allow others to do so, we are weakening our spirit.
If we are to take control of our own life and live it to the fullest, we need to have a firm foundation. And that foundation is self-respect. Often, the absence of this foundation can cause cracks in your castle of life. It will reflect in your relationships, career, ambitions and more.
Importance of self-respect
When we stand on a solid foundation of self-respect, we are perceived and treated differently. We do not let others manipulate or demean us. Others naturally sense your self-respect, and it translates into respect from them. Haven't you ever experienced meeting someone with a solid self-respect, and immediately feeling the urge to treat them well and with respect? It is the same with everyone. Bullies do not mess with people who stand up for themselves. Abusers stay away from them. Sharp-toothed criticism will not hurt them. They are comfortable in their own skin.
It doesn't matter what life or others throw at you, when you have high self-respect. You always know intuitively how to deal with it. People who respect themselves will not be trampled by anyone or anything. They know that their spirit and their self is special and deserves to be taken care of.
Developing self-respect
It is important to realize just how special you are. You are not an accident. You are given a life, because you deserve it. You are given the ultimate chance - the chance to be anything you want to be. You get only one shot at life. Your body is precious. Your mind and intellect are precious. Your soul is precious. Your spirit is precious.
Each time we treat ourselves with disrespect or allow others to do so, we are weakening our spirit. Our spirit is what can move mountains. It is the strength of your character. It is your indomitable will. It is the ability to achieve any dream. It is the power within.
Are you treating yourself with respect? Answer the following questions honestly, and then you will know whether you do.
Do you always take the time to cherish your body, mind and soul?
Do you take time out just for yourself, to invest in your personal development?
Do you pursue the activities you love?
Do you stand up for your rights?
Do you say "No" when you should?
Do you always lead a life that is congruent with your values?
Do you utilize your spirit to move the mountains in your path?
And most importantly, do you truly believe that you have it in you to achieve anything?
The more "yes" answers you had to the questionnaire, the more self-respect you have. Even if all your answers were "no", or most were, don't worry. Self-respect can be developed. Each time we do any activity which fosters our self-respect, our spirit strengthens. We can increase our self-respect by several methods. We can forgive ourselves for any mistakes we make, and may have made. We can stop feeling guilty about our past or present. We can stop finding faults with ourselves. We can congratulate ourselves on a job well done. We can congratulate ourselves when we step outside our comfort zone and do something, even if it fails. We can appreciate all the small things we do, the love we show, the care we give, the power we have. We can appreciate how much we have changed for the better over the years. We can learn to develop personal magnetism.
We can make a conscious decision, a promise to ourselves, that we will always treat ourselves with respect.
Are you a victim of abuse, criticism or disrespect? Do you feel victimized or small or hurt when others make cruel comments about us or to us? As the quote goes, nobody can make us feel bad without our permission. It doesn't matter what people say to you, what you tell yourself after you hear them is what is important. We can always choose to not let others' comments affect us. We can choose to stop living the life of a victim and get away from the abuser. We can allow ourselves the freedom to make mistakes. We can stop allowing others to judge us.
I will wind up by sharing one of the most liberating quotes I read as a teenager. Don't waste your time worrying over what others think about you; they are busy worrying over what you are thinking about them.
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