You know that age-old phrase, treat others how you want to be treated? Sometimes it’s important to understand that the Golden Rule works in reverse, too: treat yourself as well as you strive to treat others.

It’s hard to demonstrate respect for others if you struggle to respect yourself. In fact, some people who have the least amount of regard for others often struggle with their own deep sense of self-loathing.

Building your own self-esteem is an essential piece in the process of self-respect. It’s important to work through self-hatred in order to take care of yourself and recognize your value.

But it’s also important to practice self-respect by advocating for yourself. If you’re being mistreated, communicate that. Hopefully you would be willing to stand up for another person if you saw them being mistreated, so you have a responsibility to make your feelings known when others do not honor you.

Always remember that you are fully worthy of the honor that you seek to show others.

If we truly believe that all people are made in God’s image, that means recognizing the ways that God makes himself known in every unique person. Honoring the diversity of one another and showing yourself that same respect is a true picture of what it means to honor the vastness of God.

If you desire to know more about the ways that God loves and respects you, TheHopeLine’s Hope Coaches are available to help you on your unique journey.