A wise person once said, “The only person you will spend your entire life with is yourself.” And they were absolutely right. The thing is, we are the people that decide who we will live with for the rest of our lives: a happy person who gets a lot of care and attention, or someone whose wishes and interests are never the top priority.

We at Bright Side are sure that people who sincerely love and value themselves are always in good company. And there are some seemingly unimportant little things that can actually say a lot about a person’s attitude toward themselves.

Not eating or drinking from dishes with chips

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You can go to fancy restaurants, only buy food at stores that sell the best products, and you can even follow all the recommendations from your personal nutritionist. But all of this doesn’t mean anything if you eat your meals fast and while looking at the screen of your smartphone or TV. If you spend more time eating your food, you can not only improve your digestion but also strengthen your relationship with yourself.

When Kamin Mohammadi, a magazine editor from London, went to Florence to learn to love herself and accept herself the way Italians do, one of the first tips she got was how to serve the table. A local person told her, “I set the table, put a napkin, maybe even a vase with flowers, a glass of wine. I cook something delicious. Not because someone is checking to see how good my table looks. I do it for me. I do it because I feel good when I do it. This way, I feel more attractive, I feel happier. This is how I show respect for myself.”

Not answering the phone / replying to a text if you can’t

Nowadays, when almost every person in the world has a phone in their pocket and texts are sent every minute, it has become almost impossible to ignore e-mails, texts, and phone calls. But there’s nothing terrible about not replying to texts right away. Someone who really values their time sets their priorities straight, lives, and behaves according to their own wishes and needs. This is why they have the right to ignore the sudden attempts to intrude into their private life.

I never reply to work texts after 6 PM even if my boss needs something from me. This is respect for the work of everyone, and it doesn’t depend on the position you have.

Our health is a priceless gift and not taking care of it is unforgivable. Everyone is supposed to know this, but it seems that there are still people that are very careless about their own health. They think that getting regular check-ups and blood tests are a waste of money. More than that, even when their bodies signal that there’s something wrong with their health, they don’t go to the doctor and just hope that the problem will somehow go away.

The consequence of this behavior will be neglected diseases and big bills for treatment. A person that really loves themselves will listen to their body and will react at the very first symptoms. They know that in this case, money is not the worst thing you can lose.

Taking care of your teeth

The condition of your teeth can tell a lot about you. A beautiful smile is not only a sign of good health but also a sign of financial wealth. Besides, teeth are one of the first things that attract attention. According to different studies, our smile plays a big role in communication with the opposite sex and job interviews.

A healthy smile is not only a sign of good health but also something that ensures confidence. Crooked, bad-looking teeth, cavities, and bad breath destroy all our attempts at looking attractive. People that love and respect themselves remember this and visit the dentist regularly to take care of the health of their mouths.

Not being cheap on bed sheets

It’s not a secret that physical exercise is good for your health. It helps to reduce weight and decreases your chances of having cardiovascular disease, stroke, or diabetes type II. Besides, playing sports has a positive influence on your self-esteem.

Scientists have proven that people who don’t have self-esteem problems are more likely to engage in physical activity. Some of them go to the gym, some do exercises at home, and others just walk regularly. All this physical activity helps to support the health of your body, reduce stress, and improve the quality of your life.

Not gossiping about others

© Anastasia Gepp / Pixabay

People that don’t respect themselves feel good for a short period of time when they talk about others behind their backs. This is jealousy. Instead of doing something to change their lives, people with low self-esteem will try to devalue the success of others.

A person that respects themselves will not waste their time and energy on gossip. They don’t try to look better by belittling others. They understand that their lives are their responsibility and when something is going wrong, they are to blame, not their lucky friends.

How do you understand that people love and respect themselves?