Do these things too if you want to respect yourself.
Those who command a high level of respect for themselves haven’t become that way by accident. Whether by choice or subconsciously, they do certain things and they do them often which allow them to respect themselves as a person. Here are 10 things they do that you can do too.
1. They are respectful toward others.
Some people believe that if you want something in life, you need to give that exact thing to other people, and eventually it will come back to you.
And in the case of respect, never a truer word was spoken.
Show more respect for others, and you’ll come to believe that you’re worthy of the same, and you’ll start treating yourself with more respect too.
2. They spend their time wisely.
We only have a limited amount of time on this planet. And the way you spend it is so important.
Of course, you can’t spend all your time on meaningful pursuits or things you love doing.
We all have obligations, and, unfortunately, we can’t all have jobs that fill us with pride and respect.
But if you fritter away your free time doing things that don’t really matter to you or fulfil you, then your levels of self-respect are bound to suffer.
Think about how you spend the hours in an average week. There will be work, there will be other commitments, and there should be plenty of time for rest and self-care.
But you should also be able to spend some time with the people that matter most to you, doing activities that make you happy, learning about things you’re interested in, or furthering a cause you care about.
3. They spend money in ways that they feel good about.
How you choose to spend your money can have a big impact on your levels of self-respect.
If you fall prey to the tempting prices in fast fashion stores or buy disposable junk you really don’t need, despite being aware of the impact that consumerism has on our planet, you’re not going to feel good about yourself.
Look at how you spend your money in any given month and think about whether it’s a reflection of what’s really important to you.
If it’s not, then think about how you can change your spending habits so you can hold your head high when you look back at your bank statements.
4. They choose to work in a field that fits with their values.
As mentioned above, we don’t all have the luxury of being able to do a job we absolutely love.
We don’t all get to have a vocation, as there are all kinds of extenuating circumstances.
If you have a family to support or financial obligations, then a secure paycheck is the priority – and that’s okay.
But, if the work you do to earn a living goes against your principles, then it might be hard for you to respect yourself.
So, if you are in the fortunate position of being able to look for new job opportunities or think about moving into a different field of work, that would be a very positive step to take to boost your levels of self-respect.
5. They surround themselves with people who have self-respect.
We tend to learn best by example.
If you surround yourself with people who show themselves healthy levels of self-respect, you’re more likely to start emulating them.
Spend time with those who take pride in their work, make the most of their free time, whilst also taking time to rest, so that they’re always at their best.
These same people should also respect you as much as they respect themselves.
If there are people in your life who are consistently late, bring you down, or don’t put any effort into their relationship with you, then they might not be giving you the respect you deserve.
6. They make sure their romantic relationship is based on respect.
If you choose to be in a romantic relationship, it needs to be one based on mutual respect.
Just like trust, respect is the bedrock of a relationship. If you don’t show respect to your partner, and don’t receive it right back, it can undermine your feelings for one another.
Respect in relationships is expressed through the way you speak to one another, even when the going gets tough.
7. They see self-care as an essential, not a luxury.
If you want to build self-respect, you need to start looking after your body and your mind.
Self-care isn’t frivolous, it’s vital.
Eating well, moving your body, resting, and enjoying the little pleasures in life needs to become second nature.
8. They use their brain.
We all have far more brain power than we realize.
Pushing yourself mentally, trying to understand new concepts and learn new things, is hugely important.
The more you do, the more you’ll realize you’re capable of, and the more respect you’ll start to have for your intellect and intelligence.
9. They set goals, and stick to them.
Some people struggle to respect themselves because they know they’re flaky.
They always say they’re going to do something, and then end up finding a million excuses not to.
Time goes by and they don’t achieve all the things they’ve been dreaming of.
Does this sound like you?
If so, make a conscious effort to set attainable goals and reach them. This alone could really transform your own perception of yourself.
Challenge yourself, put yourself out there to try new things, and when you say you’re going to do something, mean it.
Make it happen.
10. They say no when they don’t want to say yes.
A big problem for many people who don’t respect themselves is that they try to please absolutely everyone.
That normally translates into saying yes to everything they’re asked to do, whether in their professional or personal life.
People often taken advantage of this behavior, and if you say yes to everything and have too much on your plate, you won’t be able to do anything to the standard you’d like to.
So, one of the keys to gaining self-respect is knowing when to say no.
Have the guts to turn around and politely let someone know that you’re too busy or it’s not your kind of thing.
You’ll be amazed at how transformative that seemingly insignificant word can be.
