Self-Respect is the Key to HappYness

What is more important Happyness or Self-Respect? This is a difficult question to answer. These two things go side by side. In my opinion, to be happy is to have self-respect and to have self-respect is to be happy with yourself. Is one more important than the other? I believe that it is more important to have self-respect than to just have happiness. Self respect is one of the most valuable things you can have. It helps you feel worthy of happiness and the respect of others. It reminds you that you are a valuable person-simply by virtue of being alive. When you have self-respect you gain confidence that cannot be shaken and no matter what challenge comes your way you will be able to conquer it without hesitation. This confidence you get from having self-respect will bring you unlimited supplies of happiness and as a person you will know who and what you are. It also sets a standard for others to follow. People take most of their cues from how we treat ourselves, so if you want to be treated with kindness and respect, make sure that you are setting a good example.

If you believe that you deserve happiness and fulfillment, you are very likely to attract and create circumstances that promote these conditions. By feeling that your happiness is a priority, you will be on the lookout for opportunities to do things you enjoy, and that are in line with your goals and desires. Knowing that you deserve to be happy, you will probably not pass up chances to be happy. On the other hand, if you are stuck in a negative mindset, and you believe that everyone else’s happiness is more important than yours, you will possibly forego your chances for fulfillment with flimsy excuses such as time, money, or other ‘more pressing’ commitments. We consciously and subconsciously set out to create an external life that matches our internal beliefs. If you have a good level of self respect, clear ideas of what you want in life, and the belief that you can and should have what you want, it is very likely that you will seek and find opportunities to fulfill these desires. Knowing what you want is a very big factor in having what you want. If you only have a very vague notion of a better life, it is very hard to take concrete steps towards creating one.

On the other side, it is different for the people living in Iran as described in RLit. The women there have been dehumanized and the average people have been put down by the corrupt leaders who never allow them to better themselves. When someone is dehumanized or put down to a level so low they have no understanding of what self-respect is. When they lose their self-respect they have lost themselves. They may find temporary happiness but it would just be that temporary. Without self-respect they would not have goals to achieve or desire to better themselves. How would they truly be happy if they do not have self-respect? When people have freedom of thought they can find their self-respect and then find what makes them happy. Having self-respect is more important than happiness in my opinion. A healthy self respect is one of the foundations of happiness and emotional well-being. It can help you through tough times, and inspire you to follow your heart and your dreams.