How Self-Respect Impacts Your Life

Self-respect means having a positive attitude towardyour character, values, and dignity. It is a measure of self-worth.

Dr. Vidhyasagar, a clinical psychologist at Hope Trust, believes that self-respect necessitates an appreciation for one’s identity, which influences one’s thoughts, values, emotions, commitments, and behaviours.

Benefits of Self-Respect

According to Dr. Vidhyasagar, having a healthy sense of self-respect has the following benefits:

The internal sense of happiness: People who value themselves understand that they must first look within to discover their worth, esteem, and happiness. As a result, their lives are more stable and fulfilling than those who compare themselves to others or seek external validation.

Commitment to maintaining personal values: People who respect themselves have a set of morals and values that they use to evaluate their character and actions. They are frequently willing to put everything on the line to uphold these behavioural norms because their worth and sense of self are at stake.

Self-respect empowers you to set boundaries: People with self-respect dare to define and defend their limits when challenged. By respecting yourself enough to stand up for your beliefs and boundaries, you earn the respect of others.

Self-respect brings a strong sense of dignity. It means profoundly respecting your person and position and always honouring it. This sense of dignity reflects self-respect and is a powerful force in your life.

“Self-respect is the daily practice of loving who you are. It is the foundation for achieving self-acceptance and self-love. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to live a fulfilled, meaningful, and joyful life if you don’t respect yourself first,” says Rajeshwari Luther, a therapist at Hope Trust.

Potential drawbacks of having low Self-Esteem

Below, Dr. Vidhyasagar outlines some of the potential pitfalls of low self-esteem:

Relying on external validation: People with low self-esteem let others define them rather than themselves. They are more concerned with how others perceive them than with what is truly important to them, and as a result, they frequently live a lie. They constantly need external validation and are known to be people-pleasers. A typical example is spending time showing off and often posting about their achievements on social media.

Living a life without meaning: People who lack self-respect are unconcerned about their intrinsic values or the meaning of their lives. They are frequently impulsive, irresponsible, dependent on others, and self-destructive.

Having a negative self-view: People with low self-esteem are more likely to have a negative perception of themselves, leading to self-defeating behaviours such as negative self-talk.

Developing unhealthy relationships: Healthy relationships require a balanced, wholesome view of oneself and a healthy dose of self-respect. Without it, people struggle to stand up for themselves and set boundaries. People who lack self-esteem are more likely to become trapped in unhealthy situations, such as abusive or manipulative relationships.

How external factors influence your Self-Esteem

Rajeshwari Luther describes some factors that can affect one’s self-esteem in childhood and adulthood:

Childhood influences

Self-respect, like any other lasting quality, is primarily developed during childhood. Children learn that it’s okay to love themselves when their parents or carers love and appreciate them for who they are.

Giving a child one’s undivided attention and love is the first step towards helping them value themselves. Knowing they don’t have to do anything special to deserve love and respect will make them much less likely to impose artificial limits on their feelings.

Parents who value themselves and are comfortable with their identity are likelier to instil these values in their children. A child’s sense of worth is shaped by who their parents are rather than what they do.

Adult influences

While childhood factors frequently play a more significant role in shaping one’s self-esteem, adult influences are also important. Relationships, work, and life experiences can all help to boost a person’s self-efficacy and confidence.

How to Increase Self-Respect

Here are some strategies to help you improve your sense of self-worth:

Identify your values: Begin by understanding yourself. Imagine losing everything you own and being left with only yourself. Ask yourself, “What is important to me?” What are my values? Why settle for less? “What could remind me of my worth?”

Maintain focus on internal qualities: You may fall into the trap of believing that your worth is determined by external factors such as your net worth, position, appearance, possessions, or number of social media followers. On the other hand, self-respect refers to internal qualities such as character, morals, values, and actions.

Work on accepting yourself:Pay attention to your thoughts without becoming engrossed. Concentrate on self-acceptance and let go of the harsh inner critic. Commit to forgiving and accepting your flaws, bad habits, and everything you dislike about yourself.

Challenge negative thoughts: Consider how your negative thought patterns influence your behaviour. Identify and rationalise your negative thoughts. For example, suppose a negative experience or a lack of specific skills leads you to believe you are unworthy. In that case, recognising and challenging this thought process can be beneficial: “Even if I’m not great at singing, I am still worthy of love and respect.”

Don’t succumb to self-doubt: instead, focus on loosening its grip. Nobody can make you feel unworthy of respect unless you let them. Create a connection with yourself and understand your strengths and values. Remind yourself that you have a moral obligation to respect others and yourself.

When you notice your inner critic starting to fire up, take a moment to pause, challenge your thoughts as they whisper in your ear, and remind yourself that no matter what you do or don’t do, you are beautiful and deserving of self-esteem.

Why Self-Respect is so important

Self-respect is essential to your identity—it reflects how you perceive yourself. This perspective impacts every aspect of your life, including your relationships, work, and social life.

Self-respect in the workplace can manifest in setting healthy boundaries, standing up for one’s rights, and not compromising one’s values for the sake of career advancement. Respecting and loving oneself is the first step towards earning the love and respect of others.

If you lack self-esteem, you can work to improve it. Consult a mental health professional who can help you identify your values, recognise and correct negative thought patterns, establish firm boundaries, and learn to love yourself.

Additionally, you can practice self-care, engage in activities that make you feel good about yourself, and surround yourself with supportive and positive people.

Click www.hopetrustindia.com for an online appointment with a therapist.