“Every woman that finally figured out her worth, has picked up her suitcases of pride and boarded a flight to freedom, which landed in the valley of change.” ― Shannon L. Alder
What you think of yourself is far more important than what others think of you.
I for one, was not born onto this earth with respect for myself, and if I was, it was surely lost throughout the roller-coaster adventure of childhood and terrible teens. I have now learned to have self respect, but only over the last few years and through hard work in personal growth and development with myself.
I was one of those who always said to myself, so easily. "What an absolute idiot!" or "Trust me to do something like that" or "I'm an absolute holy show" these are the types of lack-of-self-respect statements that fell of my tongue so lightly and frequently that I didn't even realise was a problem until recent years.
Where do we hear it from and how did we learn how to talk to ourselves like that and be so self-critical?
The ways we were treated and the labels we received as children can stay with us late into adulthood and impact us in every area of our lives. Unfortunately, the events that have the most lasting impact are often those that felt stressful or traumatic. Parents or babysitters who lost their tempers, teachers who ridiculed us or bullies who tormented us in school can all contribute to our negative attitudes toward ourselves and our critical inner voice as adults.
The real truth is that we are enough. We are complete and each and everyone of us are unique and special. It is crucial to have self-respect if you want to love yourself fully and completely. Having self-respect gives you the ability to love yourself for the real person you are on the inside, and not just for your looks or what you do for a living, or what you are able to do. When you have the ability to be proud of you who are, and believe that you have value as a human being, that´s when self-respect and self-love develops.
People will give you as much respect as you give yourself. If you cannot respect yourself, others will not respect you either.
Watch yourself talk.
-Your Life Drive.