1. Practice basic respect towards yourself. We often do things to ourselves that we would never dream of doing to someone we care about. (When’s the last time you called a friend ugly, told them they weren’t good enough, discouraged them from following their dreams, or sabotaged their happiness?) Whatever you believe to be respect, apply it to yourself. Don't harm yourself. Don't insult yourself. Don't steal from yourself (like recklessly putting everything on credit; you're essentially taking money from your future self, because you'll have to pay up eventually). Be honest with yourself. Develop your own opinions (see How to Be a Skeptic and How to Think for Yourself) and don’t be afraid to stand by them.