Young people are told so often that self-respect is very important, and that they need it for many different reasons. The amount of self-respect we have varies greatly; some people have too little and perhaps some have too much. It’s necessary to examine why self-respect is important, and whether there is anything else more vital for a person’s happiness and well-being.
The primary reason that people need self-respect is that without it, they will be unhappy and not take care of themselves. Without self-respect, many people will fail to realize that what they want and need in life does actually matter, and because of this, they will go through life being miserable. They are also more likely to take risks with their health and the law, because they don’t think that their life is worth all that much, or that people don’t care what happens to them. Self-respect is necessary to having a happy and satisfying life, so everybody needs to have respect for themselves.
The second important reason that people need self-respect is that you need to respect yourself before anyone else will respect you. If someone has so little self-respect and self-esteem that they are unable to stand up for themselves, no one is going to respect them. One very good example of this is the case of peer pressure. A young person who gives in to everything will not be respected by their peers at all: simply expected to do the next big thing that they’re pressured to do. People who care about themselves will care enough about the body and their life to refuse things that they don’t want to do. Because of this, they will not only be able to demand respect from their peers, but also live a happier, healthier life where they don’t do everything just to please others.
However, having plenty of self-respect is no good if it totally outweighs the level of respect that we have for others. Respect is a two-way street, and if you don’t treat other people with the respect they deserve, you may respect yourself but nobody else will. Take teachers, for example. They have to earn respect and if they treat their students with respect, they will get it in return. If they just demand it without deserving it, however, nobody will respect them at all.
In conclusion, there’s no doubt that self-respect is important. We need a certain amount to get what we need out of life, and get the respect that we need from others. But, respecting others is equally important. Ultimately, if the world were a more respectful place, where we respected ourselves and those around us, it would be a happier place.
