Respect...and stuff

I've been thinking more in recent days about self and respect, and what I should expect from others and myself. It's linked to my thoughts about expectations and beliefs, and how I value myself, and let others value me. Of course so many people say that "when you love yourself, others love you" and "you can't love someone unless you love yourself", and it's true.

I really feel that the way I think about myself affects my whole life now. And I'm also aware of the fact that my having certain standards makes me not just attractive to other people with similar standards, but it also gives me direction and dignity. And it means I'm bound to "join the club" of like minded people. There are far reaching and tremendously exciting implications to this idea. The Law of Attraction states that like attracts like. Whilst I have high standards, and self respect, I'll be attractive to similar people. That's all there is to it: no effort required. I'll have the love I want and need from others not because I have to cajole or manipulate or compromise, but because I am who I am.

I was thinking, too, about how the abused end up staying in bad relationships. They're trapped by the neediness of the other, who at the same time puts them down. Whilst your in a place of fear, and lack the support to be who you really need to be, it's psychologically impossible to escape.

I feel empowered by refusing to accept abuse. When I was a child, my father used to go on about "respect" all the time. But he didn't show it to others. He didn't know the real meaning of it, and still doesn't. But then not many people do, I suppose.