Daydreaming about being in a relationship with someone you admire and feeling excited about all of the possibilities of being with them is something that we have all been through once. The idea of being with them can cloud your judgement, causing you to forget one essential thing which is your worth. At some point there comes a time where you have to stop settling for less and start prioritizing yourself more than others in any kind of relationship.
Relationships should be built on communication, mutual respect, trust, and appreciation.
When these qualities are missing, it is clear that you may not be getting the treatment that you deserve. If you are constantly making excuses for someone’s bad behavior or just giving more than you receive back, it is time to step back and rethink your self-worth. Your self esteem is not determined by the validation of someone else, it is supposed to be rooted by the way you value yourself.
Ashley Ayala, a NJCU student shares an experience of coming to the realization of knowing her self worth. “I thought being in a bad relationship was better than having no one, but I learned that’s not true,” said Ayala. “My friends and family reminded me of my worth. Hearing them say I deserved better gave me the push I needed to walk away.” When you come to value yourself, you will attract the respect and love that aligns with your true self worth.
Joshua Cordon, a student at Hudson County Community College shares a lesson that he has come to learn the hard way. “I thought I could change them. I believed that if I tried harder, they’d eventually treat me better, but that never happened,” said Cordon. “It made me realize that I was losing myself. Once I started focusing on my own happiness, I knew I had to let go.”
Coming to the realization that you deserve effort and respect in any relationship is knowing your worth. It is all about setting boundaries and understanding that it is always better to be single than to stay with someone who does not treat you the way you deserve to be treated. Sometimes, walking away is the best and strongest act of self-love that you can show.
