No one really knows for sure how we develop self-respect, but the
experts believe it begins at a very early age. Parents who show their
children that they love them unconditionally-just because they are who
they are-build a foundation of healthy self-respect that will sustain
the children for the rest of their lives. From this foundation comes the
moral and ethical structure known as character.
Healthy self-respect should not be confused with egotism. An egotist
loves himself for the most superficial of reasons, while a
self-respecting person takes pride in qualities of character that he or
she has worked hard to develop.
