Respect is a word that gets tossed around a lot. Respect your peers, respect your parents, respect your neighbor. What we don’t always hear enough is, respect yourself. Respect is a feeling of deep admiration for someone based on their abilities, qualities, or achievements. We respect others all the time for their achievements, but do you take enough time to respect yourself?
Rather than scrolling through Instagram gawking at what other people are doing, we need to reflect on all we have that matters to us. Instead of sobbing because we don’t have a Bentley like some Instamodel from Cali you never met, hold your achievements to a higher regard. Rather than complaining about what others have compared to you, be proud that you have your health. Prioritize your values and reflect on all you have overcome to achieve a life aiming at those value. Respect your investments, don’t compare them to people who don’t matter. They’re not wasting time worrying about you, and that’s fine.
Recently, an old friend and father of three reached out to me scared. He’s dyeing and his wife was recently in a bad car accident leaving her disabled and one of their children passed away. They also have another on the way. He looked to me for advice, because even though the last time I saw him was three years before I had my son, he knew (according to him) I would be a good dad. Hearing stuff like that wakes you up. It reminds you to respect who you are and who you have, don’t worry about the small stuff. Respect yourself enough that when shit hits the fan, everything is in order.
And if you don’t yet have what you want, start respecting yourself and get after it! Right now, figure out what you stand for, what your values are. Reflect upon things you care about and general ideas that mean the most to you such as health, love, curiosity, learning, and aim everything you have at those values. Prioritizing your life so you are living in accordance with who you want to be and where you belong. That’s respecting yourself. Not feeling jealous over what you don’t have, rather appreciating what you have earned and what you’re about to achieve.
Always improve,
Chris