How To Build A Better Relationship With Yourself
- by XpatAthens
- Tuesday, 08 March 2022
Self-confidence, self-esteem, self-respect. Three concepts of paramount importance for personality development. All three of them are interrelated, directly affecting each other and defining the overall self-image of the individual.
When one or all of the above three concepts are low, it is common for a person to be hard on themselves. Of course, depending on the circumstances, even people with high self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-respect can make the mistake of treating themselves harshly, which is often completely unnecessary. Sure, we may be the worst judges of ourselves, but we really shouldn't over exaggerate. We must love, respect, and believe in ourselves because only then will we evolve as human beings.
So, if you find that you treat yourself too harshly, question or even criticize yourself, engage in harmful behaviors, and/or neglect yourself, here are five ways to have a healthier relationship with you!
1. Understand your needs
Take time to listen to your needs. What do you want the most right now? Recognizing our needs promotes emotional stability, cultivates security in our relationships with others, and contributes substantially to fulfilling our goals.
2. Eliminate toxic people from your life
To feel good about yourself, you need to remove toxic relationships from your life. Remember that the three concepts mentioned above can be influenced by significant others and our social environment, in general. Therefore, look for people who make you feel better, not people who constantly try to put you down.
3. Focus on what you have, not what you lack
Let's start with the basics - everyone will not get everything they want. This is the way of life, and it's not a problem. The problem is that most people focus only on what they do not have. The illusion of perfection projected through social media (and other media too) is very much responsible for the sense of frustration that afflicts many people and the feeling of jealousy that timidly emerges, putting us in the process of comparing ourselves to others all the time. When this happens, we need to redirect our energy into appreciating everything we have.
4. Stop blaming yourself
Taking responsibility for our actions is indeed very important. However, sometimes we overdo it. Some things are beyond our control, and it makes no sense to try and change them. Let life flow, and do not spend time on things that are not up to you. This way you eliminate the excess stress and have more energy to deal with what you can actually control - your present moment, your goals and aspirations.
5. Accept that not everyone will like you
People want to be liked. However, this may not always be the case, and you need to learn to deal with it. It's a big mistake to change your behavior and alter your personality just to be liked. Pretending to be someone you are not can only hurt you and will result in your relationships with others being based on a very shaky foundation. Love yourself and accept you for who you are.