Showing respect for ourselves goes beyond the four ways we discussed in class this week:
- Healthy eating
- exercise
- proper amount of sleep
- personal hygiene
To have a real self respect it is also important not to be talked into risking our physical or mental health with bad habits such as smoking or drugs. In fact many young people are drawn into that with a dare from others – a dare to do unhealthy or even dangerous acts. But a person who has respect for themselves will not succumb to the ‘peer’ pressure. We know that ‘we matter’. We value our health and our bodies.
Beyond those things that seem so obvious, it is shows respect for our life when we have a goal or a mission. Even young people can have a mission or a purpose. Having this spelled out, understood that this is why I am doing what I am doing will help us keep everything in perspective. Having and reaching a goal also acts as a building block to the next and possibly larger goal. As we reach them, our self respect goes up, resulting in greater confidence and self esteem.
I was so happy to hear our students when talking about self respect say very early in the conversation that we should speak to ourselves in a positive manner and not put ourselves down if we make a mistake or fail to get something that we were hoping for. They really got the message we talked about when discussing confidence.