Respect: Requirement or Luxury?

When we have been mistreated so many times in the past, we almost begin to anticipate disrespect (or at least a lack of consideration) from others.

Past experiences can leave behind scars that have a negative long-term effect on your self-esteem, self-respect and confidence, to the point where you lower your standards for the people you interact with.

You may feel that requiring a basic level of mutual respect is too high of a standard for people to achieve, so you accept less than the bare minimum.

Of course, lowering your standards also comes with switching off your discernment and lowering your boundaries and natural defences.

In the short- term it may feel as though doing so makes interactions a lot easier, but in the grand scheme of things, you are carrying a huge metaphorical sign above your head that reads, “TOXIC PEOPLE LAND HERE!”.

Toxic individuals, who seek to manipulate, prefer to target people who have lowered their standards in order to accommodate how they’ve been treated, because this means they only need to invest a minimal amount of effort in order to get maximum reward.

They can also safely assume that any level of positive treatment – from basic respect to intense love bombing – will be met with adoration.

However, when you begin to know your self-worth, you will accept nothing less than genuine respect from everyone else. That is the least you deserve.

No longer will you become completely enamoured with anyone who shows you the slightest bit of interest.

You won’t hesitate to set necessary boundaries and nip disrespect in the bud, including those “Sneaky Signs of Disrespect You Might Not Recognise”.

It will also be easier for you to maintain your composure and discernment regardless of how you’re treated, which will actually deter and expose toxic individuals attempting to enter into your circle.

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