The Slippery Slope of Disrespecting Yourself

Lately it seems like I’ve been writing a lot about motivation and inspiration.

I don’t know why.

Maybe it’s because I see so many people who are living lives in quiet desperation as Henry David Thoreau said. He said, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.”

And as Oliver Wendell Holmes’ (1809-1894) “The Voiceless” says…

“Alas for those that never sing, But die with all their music in them.”

I see people every single day living lives they hate just so that they can exist in our society. Many people live lives they hate just to please others. Maybe you’re that way. Maybe you went to school for 4 years and now have more student loan debt than you can shake a stick at and feel trapped. Going to school can do that to you. 😉

Now you have to make a lot of money in order to pay that bad boy off.

It’s sad to see how society can easily trap us into its sticky web without us knowing until we finally wake up.

Each day we’re presented with numerous opportunities to rise up and become somebody that even we respect. Lack of self respect and self love results in depression, torn lives, crime, poverty and every imaginable evil that could exist.

When you don’t respect yourself a whole host of problems seem to cascade out of control in your life.

If I were to tell a random person off the street everything you did this past week (even when nobody was looking) and I also told them the things you wanted to do but didn’t, would that person say? Would they say you’re a noble person? Would they say that if everybody aspired to be like you, the world would be a better place?

Or would they stand there in awe as everything you did was recounted to them? I realize we’re not living life to please others or impress others but what I am saying is that each day we’re given chances to rise above certain situations.

A woman drops her bag and some items fall out onto the concrete. You see another man whose just a little bit closer to her than you so if people witnessed that, they wouldn’t necessarily think you’re a jerk for not helping.

Maybe you see somebody struggling just a little bit putting groceries in the trunk of their car and you could offer to help but you don’t.

Or perhaps you know you could stop by the gym on the way home from work like you planned but you drive by because it’s 10 minutes later than you thought and you figure that that’s a good enough excuse.

You could wake up with your alarm clock and get two or three things done that would help you move in the directions of your dreams but you hit the snooze button instead.

Is it easy to help a woman with her groceries? Is it easy to just go to the gym? Hell yes it is! It’s easy.

But here’s the problem…

It’s easy not to also.

Everybody else cuts corners, but don’t be everybody else.

Start doing the little things like I just described and you’ll be surprised how much changes in your life. You’ll be excited for new opportunities that seem to arise out of nowhere.

Life (or God) is testing you. Do you have the will and the fortitude to be a better person? When you start to say yes to yourself you’ll soon actually start thinking you have something within you to do more.

You’ll start respecting yourself because you’ll think you actually deserve some of the good things that have come your way. You’ll start working hard because you’re working with intention and a dedication to help others.

Starting to love and respect yourself starts small. It’s now how you will react in huge moments but the small ones that begin to build a bridge to greater circumstances in life.

So start saying yes to yourself. Start accepting each challenge or situation as a test of your will. See it as a test to see if you’ll rise to the challenge no matter how small it is (like helping a woman cross the street) and if you keep going out of your way to seek out these challenges your life will soon begin to change.

Remember the words of Jesus: “To whom much is given, much is required”

Don’t have much right now? It’s probably because you’ve proven you can’t be kept accountable with what you did have. “Having” can also mean having experiences or circumstances where you can make life better for someone.

Start requiring a lot of yourself. Start holding yourself to a higher standard and I can guarantee you’ll be offered small chances to start respecting yourself.

Once you start respecting and loving yourself, watch out because big things will begin to happen to you and because of you.

You watch.