Adrian Volenik
There’s nothing wrong with loving yourself and caring for your feelings, emotions, and well-being.
In fact, I wish everyone had more self-respect. The world would be a much better place than it is.
But let’s pick the brains of self-respecting people and find out what things you’ll never hear them say.
1) “I’ll do whatever benefits me”
A self-respecting person has values and principles that guide their actions and decisions. They prioritize doing what’s right over personal gain, proving their integrity and moral strength.
You’d never hear them saying, “I’ll do whatever benefits me.” On the contrary, they’re careful not to infringe on other people’s rights and not to overstep any boundaries.
Self-respecting people aren’t selfish. They look out for others, help bootstrap them, and offer them advice when needed.
2) “I don’t care about anyone else’s feelings”
Self-respecting people understand how important empathy and compassion are. They recognize the feelings of others and treat them with respect, valuing emotional connections and relationships.
For example, if a friend is going through a tough time, a self-respecting person offers their support. They lend a listening ear, provide a shoulder to cry on or offer practical help without expecting anything in return.
If they unintentionally hurt someone’s feelings, they acknowledge their mistake, express regret, and take steps to make amends.
3) “Honesty is overrated”
Honesty is a cornerstone of self-respect. People who prioritize their self-respect are honest and transparent in their interactions with others, knowing that lies can damage trust and integrity.
When I think of honesty, I always remember the 34th President of the US, Dwight D. Eisenhower.
His farewell address is notable for its warnings about the growing influence of the “military-industrial complex” and its impact on American society and government.
He expressed concerns about the potential negative consequences of the close relationship between the defense industry, the armed forces, and the government.
The address remains a significant piece of American history and political discourse. It’s also more true now than ever!
4) “What’s wrong with belittling others?”
Self-respecting people have healthy self-esteem and don’t need to put others down to feel good about themselves. They build their confidence through positive self-affirmation instead of diminishing others.
Let’s not fool ourselves. There are a lot of people that love putting people down. What’s worse, they’re often in positions of power and have an extremely negative influence on others.
5) “I don’t have time to help or support others”
Taking your time and helping or even mentoring others is a great way to give back to society and help others achieve amazing things.
Self-respecting people recognize the value of helping and supporting others. They understand that contributing positively to others’ lives promotes a sense of fulfillment and interconnectedness.
Remember the last time you helped someone? How did it feel? It felt good, right? So why not chase that feeling and help as many people as you can?
6) “I don’t need to learn anything new”
No one should ever be satisfied with how much they know. There’s always room for improvement.
Being complacent means you quickly become replaceable with someone willing to adapt and embrace new knowledge.
Can you imagine doctors not educating themselves further after leaving medical school? Of course not. That would be harmful to their patients.
A self-respecting person embraces a growth mindset. Above all else, they know how little they know.
They’re open to learning, self-improvement, and acknowledging that there’s always more to discover and understand.
7) “I don’t need to apologize; I’m never wrong”
It’s fitting that someone who thinks they know everything also believes they’re never wrong, right?
They’re stubborn enough not to be swayed by a trail of their own mistakes. They also don’t self-reflect and severely lack any self-awareness, which is one of the most important traits.
On the other side, self-respecting people are secure enough to admit their mistakes and take responsibility for their actions.
Apologizing demonstrates humility and a commitment to resolving conflicts.
They’re self-aware and know their strengths, weaknesses, and, most importantly, when they’re right or wrong.
8) “I only associate with people who can benefit me”
This is something I imagine politicians think or say. They almost exclusively mingle with donors, voters, and ass-kissers.
It’s a well-known fact that most politicians have no self-respect. Otherwise, they wouldn’t do the things they regularly do.
Genuine self-respect means you value people for who they are, not just for what they can offer (to you).
9) “Someone else will take care of it”
It always baffles me when I hear someone say this. What’s worse, this happens mostly when a situation has an easy fix they could do themselves, thus making life easier for someone else.
But no. People mostly take the easy way out, which entails inaction. For example, when asked to contribute to a charitable cause, they might think, “Others will donate; my contribution won’t matter,” leading them to refrain from donating.
Or even more importantly, during an election, many people think, “Others will vote, so my vote won’t make a difference,” leading them to abstain from voting.
Self-respecting people take ownership of their responsibilities. They don’t shirk duties onto others, recognizing that fulfilling commitments is important.
Even when they don’t have to do something.
10) “Hard work is for fools”
I’m a big proponent of hard work. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. It’s what we do with them that matters.
If you spend most of your free hours scrolling social media, yet at the same time you envy the lives of others, it’s mostly your fault, whether you’re willing to admit it or not.
People without self-respect always take the easy way out.
But a self-respecting person values the satisfaction of hard work and dedication. They understand that shortcuts often lead to subpar results and a lack of sense of achievement.
Winning the lottery is nice, but most winners spend all their money sooner rather than later, and many are forced to return to work.
11) “I enjoy spreading rumors and causing drama”
Interestingly, some people enjoy stirring up drama and creating a commotion. They do it in their workplace, at home, or with strangers or family members.
Nothing is sacred to them, and they think they’re the main character. While I do believe everyone is the hero in their own life story, you don’t have to make other people’s lives miserable just because you feel entitled or even bored.
Self-respecting people inherently promote harmony and positive communication. They don’t engage in harmful behaviors that can damage relationships and create unnecessary conflict.
If there’s something I hate in life, it’s drama queens. Luckily, you can typically hear them miles away, and it’s somewhat easy to avoid them.
But if you’re stuck in a relationship of any kind with them, good luck to you.
12) “I don’t need friends; they’re just a liability”
Good friends are a treasure. That’s why it’s so sad that we start valuing them more only when they’re gone.
However, people with no self-respect often don’t need and don’t even have friends. They only have acquaintances.
Self-respecting people value meaningful relationships and understand the significance of companionship, emotional support, and adventures that (good) friendships provide.
They don’t view them as liabilities but as enriching aspects of life. And rightfully so.
Final thoughts
Hopefully, you understand self-respectful people more now. In fact, because you’re reading this article, I’m a hundred percent sure you’re one as well.
But if you know any people that lack this important trait, don’t cut ties with them. Try to help them understand things.
By letting them be, you’re unleashing them into society, and they’ll do more bad things than good.
