We all may have struggled with self-respect at some point in life – some more, some less. This is something we learn over time, but consistent practice makes it stronger, and that is essential for living a happy and prosperous life. A lack of self-respect affects us psychologically: it makes us feel low, impacts our self-confidence and mental health, affects our performance and career growth, and prevents us from exploring ourselves freely. All of this eventually leads us to live a life we do not want.
We always deserve more, but low self-respect confines us within boundaries and does not allow us to grow. When we are full of self-respect, we see life differently; when it is lacking, our perspective on life changes completely.
But the question is – why do we lack self-respect?
There can be many factors. Not every point highlighted below will apply to everyone, so reflect on which ones affect you and work on them to regain the self-respect you deserve.
Not Respecting What You Have
There are certain things we are born with, such as our looks, family, parents, or financial background. Some people accept and respect these, while others do not. They keep complaining about their physical appearance, their financial situation, or what they lack. They compare themselves with others and dwell on these thoughts instead of accepting their reality and working to improve it. With effort and focus, many things can be changed. Rather than worrying, one should focus on the positives and work hard toward growth.
Social Environment
Self-respect is also influenced by the company we keep, the content we consume, and what appears in our social media feeds. Spending time with negative people, reading negative content, or constantly consuming pessimistic social media posts can slowly affect our self-esteem.
Too Much Expectation
Expecting too much from ourselves and failing to meet those expectations leads to self-doubt and self-criticism. We must be realistic and thoughtful while setting expectations; otherwise, we end up hurting ourselves.
Lack of Patience
Impatience brings negativity into our minds. When we work toward something and do not see immediate results, we start making negative assumptions. We must remember that good things take time, and patience is key to sustained growth.
Lack of a Plan
Having a clear plan helps us move forward in the right direction. Unfortunately, many people have random or short-sighted plans. When these plans fail, they make mistakes, give up on their goals, and lose confidence. This severely affects both self-belief and self-respect.
Negative Experiences
Certain incidents in life affect us deeply and leave lasting emotional scars. These could be mistakes, humiliation, insults, business losses, or failed plans. Such experiences often reduce our confidence and make it difficult to restart. As a result, we begin to look down on ourselves and believe that we are incapable.
