What do the people you hold in regard have in common?
People who demand respect from others are often the very individuals who lack that feature. With no self-respect, they look to others to treat them with regard.
“Respect yourself if you would have others respect you.”¹ Individuals who have self-respect do not need to request or demand it from others. Self-respect is a trait that is evident in our attitude, morals, and actions; and it is the integrity in our attitude, morals, and actions that provides us with the respect of others.
Treating ourselves with dignity, honor, and esteem is not due to a sense of pride, it is due to self-respect. Pride is vanity, narcissism, egoism, and status centered. Self-respect is accepting ourselves—our strengths and weaknesses, talents and limitations, successes and mistakes. Pride denies or hides weaknesses, limitations, and mistakes. Self-respect announces them.
What evidence of self-respect can be found in your attitude, morals, and actions today?
¹From The Art of Wordly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracian