The Importance of Self-Respect

Introduction:

Think of the last time you were at a concert, audition, or any humanities event. You’ve probably had the thought, 

• “Wow, I wish I were as talented as them.”

• “It would be so cool if I were able to do that.”

As much as it is amazing to see these performances live and witness them, it can be quite harmful when constantly expressing these thoughts. Many incidents go unnoticed, but over time, these encounters will eat your mind from the inside out.

Comparisons:

We’ve definitely had thoughts such as,

• “Why is that kid just so much better than me at basketball?”

• “If I had his skills, I’d guarantee I’d be just as good.”

It’s common; everyone experiences these thoughts, but it is dependent upon the person to determine how these thoughts affect them. Some people may be bewildered, other people might use it as courage and strength to push them the extra mile. Obviously, the second option is more beneficial for everyone, but people tend to get stuck like quicksand in a slope that is consuming them.

Comparisons, they slowly deteriorate our confidence and build a sense of inferiority in individuals. Why, you may ask? Humans are prideful creatures, and hundreds of different studies have analyzed the human psyche and its responses to the entire. When a person is surrounded by high-achieving individuals, that person feels they are not as proficient as a human compared to them. These thoughts belittle ourselves and our confidence to speak up in situations. We may feel neglected, we may not find the right area to express ourselves, and the effects are damaging. Sadly, mental health has eroded over the past couple of years, and improvements are slim to none. The reason is self-explanatory after a couple of thoughts. It is not a disease but rather ourselves; it’s unique because we’ve not experienced anything like this before. Over the last several decades, people were stronger, more emotionally stable, and had higher levels of confidence in themselves. Over the years, due to improvements in social media, people have become influenced negatively by online personas, and these personas are more complex than you may realize.

The Reality Behind Comparisons:

It may come off as obvious to some, but others may be stuck in a wormhole when social media is involved. Social media is harmful. One of the major reasons behind its harm is the superficial lives being portrayed on it. Popular influencers or even students at your school post the best content, and oftentimes carefully pick certain environments to maximize their posts. We do not look for the behind-the-scenes, however, and we believe that particular post demonstrates the influencer’s everyday life. 

We’ve heard of the saying,

• “Too good to be true.”

In this scenario, it is too good to be true. People often lie about themselves to present themselves as great. Lies can be beneficial in some capacity, but for the average person, these lies destroy their mental health. Hundreds of students have researched the effects, but in summary, comparisons make us feel less than others.

Self-Respect:

It is important to set boundaries for certain addictions or habits. Try to minimize your social media usage, and try to minimize any activity or hobby that may feel forced because these also impact us quietly. Remember, your life is dictated by your own actions; we should not let others decide our decisions. The person you saw on social media does not know you exist, yet you may try your hardest to make contact with them. Focus on yourself, be proud of who you are, and stop seeking validation or wanting praise from others. If you cannot praise yourself, then a confoudningn phenomena is occurring, because the first person to be proud of any achievement is ourselves.

Conclusion

Overall, comparisons truly impact us significantly. The hardest part is the silent aspect of them. They are not loud, they are not noisy or rowdy; it’s all stored in the secluded places in our minds. Curing diseases, inventing new vaccines, and creating new antibiotics all help against antigens. But what if the battle we’re facing is against ourselves?