A. Get to know yourself.
B. Take care of your body.
C. Practice basic respect towards yourself.
D. Be honest with yourself and with others.
E. Think about what it means to respect someone.
F. Recognize when people disrespect you and take steps to stop it.
G. Respect yourself is to respect others.
How to Respect Yourself
A lack of self-respect can prevent you from fulfilling your potential and developing healthy relationships. Here are some steps to help you know how to respect yourself.
________________________ The qualities that we respect vary from person to person, and the way we express it varies from culture to culture. Generally, we respect people who have more experience and are more accomplished than ourselves. But there is also a basic level of respect that most people will agree is a right, and does not need to be earned. So think about what it means to respect others. Here are some widely agreed-upon signals of respect: You don’t steal from, harm, or insult them; you are honest with them; you listen to what they say, consider their opinions, and avoid interrupting them.
_______________________ We often do things for ourselves that we would never dream of doing for someone we care about. Whatever you believe to be respectful, apply it to yourself. Don’t harm yourself. Don’t insult yourself. Don’t steal from yourself. Be honest with yourself. Develop your own opinions and don’t be afraid to stand by them.
_______________________ A person with self-respect doesn’t allow others to treat them badly, and would rather not be around someone who is disrespectful. This might seem obvious, but there are many times when we accept being treated badly. When someone doesn’t give you basic respect, you need to be able to say, in one way or another, “You just disrespected me and that’s not acceptable! If you don’t respect me, I won’t spend time with you any more.” Can you say that, and mean it? Can you turn your back on someone who’s clearly shown that they don’t respect you? Once you do, you’ll feel your sense of self-respect go up.
_______________________ When you make an effort to keep your body in good working order, you’ll not only feel better physically, but also feel a sense of pride. Respecting your body also means not insulting it for what it is, naturally. Make an effort to get fit and stay healthy. Focus on the things you can change and improve, and do them because it feels good.
_______________________ The more you know about yourself, the more you’ll see and appreciate how unique you really are. And you’ll respect yourself more. Discover your principles, personality, and talents. Stop waiting for other people’s approval and start developing your own standards. Develop a unique and original way of expressing your opinions while at the same time being a good listener.