You never have to try to convince others to respect you when you stop living to keep everyone else happy and live life for you.
If you’re feeling like you have to try to “make” others respect you, that’s a losing battle. Figure out who you want to be and be true to that person to the best of your abilities. People around you will either respect you, or they won’t. And those who respect you will be respecting the real you if you’re being genuine and true to yourself in your actions. They’ll be people you want in your life. Those who don’t respect you will most likely be people you don’t want in your life anyway.
Helping others, being compassionate, and lifting up those around us are great qualities in a person. But you don’t want to live solely for making others happy while neglecting yourself. Especially if it conflicts with being true to yourself.
