The 7 Keys to Building and Maintaining Self-Respect

R.E.S.P.E.C.T… does anyone else think about the famous song by Aretha Franklin when they hear the word RESPECT in their head? Like the song says, ‘Find out what it means to me’ – discover for yourself what it means to embrace and maintain self-respect. Read on The 7 Keys to Building and Maintaining Self-Respect.

Here is what you need to keep in mind continuously to respect yourself:

The 7 Keys to Building and Maintaining Self-Respect

R – Relationship 

‘The Most Important Relationship in Life is the Relationship that You have with Yourself’ – Diane Von Furstenberg 

This is the one permanent relationship that you will have in your life, all other relationships are connected to this one. Self-respect comes from continuous self-development and having a positive relationship with oneself. 

E – Empathy 

‘Empathy begins with understanding life from another person’s perspective. Nobody has an objective experience of reality. It’s all through our own individual prisms’ – Sterling K. Brown

We think of empathy towards others but what about empathy towards yourself? Sometimes in order to build and maintain self-respect you will need to look at your life through a different perspective, often when we are in a negative or dark place we forget our own beauty and our own worth. Look at yourself through the mind and eyes of another to remember how awesome you really are when you cannot see it at first yourself. 

S – Standards 

‘Raise Your Standards, Keep them High, and Keep Them True to You’ – Haseena Bheekhun 

We hear a lot about having standards and raising them. It is Positive to have them however Be mindful that you are creating standards that are True to You. You can be inspired by others but be careful that you don’t make someone else’s standards your own. Also be sure that you know what your standards are across all areas of your life and hold yourself accountable to it. It is the accountability towards yourself and being uncompromising that will give you self-respect.  

P – Passion 

‘My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style’ – Maya Angelou 

You have One Life. You Live One Lifetime and each day gifted to you is one that you must live with zest and passion. Life is beautiful, life encompasses both light and dark moments, however throughout it all you must have pride and confidence in yourself. To be passionate about life you must love, respect and value yourself, which is gained from self-development. Be passionate about You! 

E – Energy 

‘Choose to focus your time, energy and conversation around people who inspire you, support you and help you to grow you into your happiest, strongest, wisest self.’ – Karen Salmansohn 

Energy is a broad topic, but the energy that you generate within you as well as the energy that surrounds you plays a part in how you think and feel about yourself. Be careful and be mindful about this and ensure that the energy is ‘positive’ so that you can empower yourself to be the best version of yourself thus allowing you to respect yourself. This includes what you do mentally, physically and spiritually. Keep yourself healthy. 

C – Compassion

‘If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.’ – Dalai Lama 

If you want to respect yourself you need to be compassionate towards yourself and others. Compassion is not about feeling sorry for yourself or others or allowing excuses, it is about having a loving and understanding mindset. Lack of compassion will only create unnecessary obstacles and setbacks, it will create negativity for you and others, it will result in a lack of respect for yourself and others. Your happiness depends on it so learn to be compassionate. 

T – Trust

‘Love yourself for who you are, and trust me, if you are happy from within, you are the most beautiful person, and your smile is your best asset.’ – Ileana D’cruz

‘Trust your own instincts, go inside, follow your heart. Right from the start. go ahead and stand up for what you believe in. As I’ve learned, that’s the path to happiness.’ – Lesley Ann Warren

To respect yourself, you must believe in yourself, you must trust yourself. You cannot depend on others for this and lack of it will not enable you to make the right decisions for yourself. 

Self-respect is a belief, it is also like a muscle, you need to first define it for yourself, then believe in it wholeheartedly and then forever maintain it as a daily practice through daily action. 

Remember it all starts with you. 

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