Knowing your self-worth is crucial. It’s that inner compass that tells you what you should and shouldn’t put up with from others.
When you have high self-worth, there are certain behaviors that just don’t make the cut. You don’t tolerate them because you know you deserve better.
This isn’t about being arrogant or thinking you’re better than other people. It’s about respecting yourself and expecting the same from others.
In this article, we’ll dive into the 8 behaviors that people with high self-worth never tolerate from others. These are the non-negotiables, the deal-breakers, the absolutely nots.
Let’s get started.
1) Disrespect
At the heart of high self-worth is respect. Respect for oneself and respect from others.
When you have high self-worth, you understand that you are deserving of respect. This isn’t a negotiable or a ‘nice to have’. It’s a must.
Disrespect can come in many forms. It could be someone belittling your achievements, or someone not valuing your time. It might also be someone crossing your boundaries or ignoring your needs.
People with high self-worth don’t put up with disrespect. Not because they think they’re better than others, but because they know what they’re worth.
They know their value, and they expect others to see it too. And if someone doesn’t? They won’t put up with it, simple as that. They understand that everyone deserves respect, and they make sure to demand it for themselves.
2) Manipulation
Nobody likes to be manipulated. Especially not those who have a high level of self-worth.
I recall a time when I was in a relationship with someone who was, let’s just say, less than honest. They would twist words, make false promises and try to control situations to their advantage. It was classic manipulation.
At first, I didn’t realize what was happening. But as my self-worth grew, I saw the manipulation for what it was – an attempt to control and belittle me.
The moment I recognized this behavior, I knew it was something I would no longer tolerate. Because when you value yourself, you refuse to be a puppet in someone else’s game.
Manipulation is a deal-breaker for those with high self-worth. They know their worth is not dependent on someone else’s control or deceit.
3) Negativity
Negativity can drain the life out of you. It’s like a black hole that sucks in all the light and happiness.
Did you know that our brains have something called mirror neurons? These neurons basically reflect what we observe in others. So if we’re surrounded by negativity, our brains can mirror that, leading to us feeling negative as well.
People with high self-worth understand this and they protect their space from unnecessary negativity. They know that they have the power to choose who and what they allow into their lives.
They choose positivity, optimism, and joy. And they choose to distance themselves from constant negativity, not because they are running away from reality, but because they value their peace of mind and emotional health.
4) Invalidation
Having a high level of self-worth means knowing that your feelings, thoughts, and experiences are valid.
It’s one thing to disagree with someone, but it’s a whole other thing to invalidate their feelings or experiences. This can be as subtle as someone saying “You’re overreacting” or as blatant as “That didn’t happen”.
People with high self-worth don’t tolerate their feelings being invalidated. They know that their emotions and experiences are real and they have every right to feel the way they do.
They don’t allow others to dismiss or minimize their feelings, because they understand that doing so is not only disrespectful, but also damaging to their psychological well-being.
They value their emotional health and hence, they don’t put up with invalidation.
5) Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is a silent killer. It doesn’t leave visible marks but it can deeply scar a person’s soul.
The sad part is, emotional abuse is often brushed under the rug. It’s the unkind words, the constant criticism, the humiliation, the guilt-tripping…all these behaviors that slowly chip away at a person’s self-esteem.
People with high self-worth recognize emotional abuse for what it is – unacceptable. They understand that love isn’t about control or power, it’s about respect and kindness.
They do not allow anyone to belittle them or make them feel less than they are. They know their worth and they refuse to let anyone diminish that.
They choose love, kindness and respect because they understand that these are the foundations of any healthy relationship, be it with others or with oneself.
6) Lack of empathy
There was a time when I had lost a close family member. The grief was overwhelming and it felt like I was carrying a heavy weight on my chest.
During this time, I encountered people who were dismissive of my feelings, telling me to ‘get over it’ or ‘move on’. It was as if they expected me to deal with my loss in their timeline, without any regard for what I was going through.
This showed a glaring lack of empathy. And it’s something that people with high self-worth don’t tolerate.
Empathy is about understanding and sharing the feelings of others. It’s about being there for someone, not with solutions or judgments, but with open ears and a caring heart.
People with high self-worth value empathy. They don’t accept people in their lives who can’t understand or respect their feelings. They know that they deserve kindness, understanding, and empathy, and they won’t settle for less.
7) Constant criticism
Constructive criticism is one thing. It helps us grow and improve. But constant, unfounded criticism? That’s a different story.
People with high self-worth understand the difference. They are open to feedback and even criticism when it’s given with the intent to help them improve. However, they do not tolerate constant criticism that serves no purpose other than to bring them down.
They recognize the difference between someone who genuinely wants to help them grow, and someone who just wants to belittle them or keep them ‘in their place’.
People with high self-worth refuse to let anyone use criticism as a weapon against them. They know their worth and they don’t allow anyone to undermine it with pointless criticisms.
8) Being taken for granted
The most important thing to remember is that people with high self-worth do not allow themselves to be taken for granted.
They understand their value and they don’t accept being treated as an afterthought or a convenience. They know that their time, their energy, their love – all of it is precious.
So they don’t tolerate being taken for granted. They don’t allow people to use them or take advantage of their kindness.
They respect themselves too much for that. And they know that they deserve to be valued, appreciated and respected.
