{"id":37832,"date":"2021-05-29T18:04:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-29T22:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=37832"},"modified":"2021-06-14T09:11:08","modified_gmt":"2021-06-14T13:11:08","slug":"how-to-build-self-respect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-build-self-respect\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build Self-Respect: Fake It Till You Make It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever noticed that some people seem to walk around commanding respect while others go ignored or, at best, tolerated? What do you think is the difference?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

David J. Schwartz, the author of The Magic of Thinking Big<\/a><\/em>, proposes a simple answer: thinking. If you truly believe you are an important and valuable person and carry yourself with self-respect and confidence, that attitude will shine through and others will react to you with respect and deference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without further ado, here’s how to build self-respect, according to David J. Schwartz. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The 4 Ways to Build Self-Respect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To gain the respect of others, we must first show a high level of self-respect and self-confidence. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to build self-respect so that others can see you as a self-confident and important individual. This entails four steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Look important.<\/li>
  2. Believe your work is important.<\/li>
  3. Create and deliver your own pep talk. <\/li>
  4. Think like an important person.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    1) Look Important<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Your appearance says volumes about how you feel about yourself and how others perceive you. If you present a careless, slovenly appearance, especially in a job setting, you\u2019ll be perceived as a non-entity. Your appearance is telling others, \u201cDon\u2019t mind me. I\u2019m used to being pushed around.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If, however, you look your best, you\u2019ll be perceived as someone who is important and capable. Your appearance is saying, \u201cI\u2019m used to being treated with respect.\u201d<\/strong> Others will fall in line and treat you with the respect you’re commanding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Your physical outside influences your mental inside.<\/strong> When kids wear a costume, they start acting the part, whether it\u2019s a superhero or a princess. As adults, we shouldn\u2019t think we\u2019re immune to this effect. If you\u2019re an executive, dressing like an executive makes you feel like one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Dressing differently also influences how other people perceive you. When you buy produce, you want to buy more attractive, better-packaged produce more than less attractive produce. Other people treat you the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What if money is an issue? You\u2019d love to wear a top-notch suit and think more like an executive, but you simply can\u2019t afford it. Then buy fewer items, but make sure they\u2019re higher quality<\/strong>. You may ultimately spend less because higher-quality items tend to last longer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2) Believe That Your Work Is Important<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Just like your appearance, your attitude toward your work or goal speaks volumes to everyone around you. If you believe your work is important, other people will believe you are important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There\u2019s a classic story of three bricklayers who are asked what they\u2019re doing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n