If someone puts you down, they’re disrespecting you; if someone ignores your boundaries, they’re not valuing you.
These are basic signals that you might be dealing with low self-worth.
But hey, it’s not always that straightforward.
See, self-worth is a tricky thing.
It’s a maze within our minds that can often lead us to tolerate certain behaviors from others that we really shouldn’t.
And if you’re nodding along, thinking “that’s me”, then this one’s for you.
We’re about to dive into eight behaviors that you should stop tolerating, right now.
1) Disrespectful comments
Sure, a little bit of banter is normal—it’s part of life.
However, when someone constantly puts you down, belittles your achievements, or makes you feel less than… that’s not okay.
It’s disrespectful, plain and simple.
Dealing with low self-worth can often make us tolerate these sorts of comments more than we should.
We might think it’s just harmless fun, or maybe we believe we deserve it.
But here’s the truth: Nobody deserves to be disrespected.
If someone’s words are making you feel small, it’s time to take a stand.
You deserve to be treated with kindness and respect, always—don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.
2) Boundary violations
Let me share a little story with you:I used to have a friend, who was really good at convincing me to do things I didn’t want to do – things that made me uncomfortable.
She’d always say, “Oh come on, it’s just a bit of fun.”
But you know what? It wasn’t fun for me because I realized that she was consistently ignoring my boundaries and my feelings.
I was constantly feeling uncomfortable and upset because I allowed her to push me into situations I didn’t want to be in.
It took some time, but I finally understood that this was a clear violation of my boundaries.
Now, I’m not saying it was easy, but I stopped tolerating this behavior.
I spoke up and started asserting my boundaries more firmly.
If someone doesn’t respect your boundaries, it’s time to rethink that relationship.
You deserve to feel comfortable and respected in all situations.
Don’t let anyone cross your boundaries without your consent.
3) Negativity and criticism
Did you know that our brains are naturally more attuned to negative information? It’s true.
This phenomenon is known as the negativity bias.
So, when someone is constantly negative or critical towards you, it can have a significant impact on your self-worth.
You might start believing that you’re not good enough, or that you can’t do anything right.
Yet, here’s the thing: Don’t let anyone’s negativity cloud your vision of who you truly are.
Constant criticism and negativity is not something you should tolerate.
Constructive feedback is one thing, but if it’s all negative, all the time, it’s not helping you grow – it’s just bringing you down.
4) Being taken for granted
You know that feeling when you’re always there for someone, but when you need them, they’re nowhere to be found? Yeah, it’s not a great feeling.
Being taken for granted can really wear you down as it can make you feel like you’re not important or valued.
But listen up, you are important—and you should be valued.
If you’re always giving and never receiving, it might be time to reconsider.
Relationships should be a two-way street, filled with mutual respect and appreciation.
Your time, your efforts, your love—they’re all valuable.
5) Manipulation tactics
I’ve been there; I’ve been manipulated and didn’t even realize it until much later.
Manipulation is one of those things that can be hard to spot, especially when you’re in the middle of it all.
Maybe they use guilt trips to control your actions, or perhaps they twist your words to make you doubt yourself.
These tactics can seriously harm your self-worth—I know because I’ve felt it.
It made me question my decisions, my feelings, and even my sanity at times, but here’s what I’ve learned: You have every right to your feelings, thoughts, and decisions.
Stand strong against manipulation.
It’s not easy, but it’s necessary for your self-worth and overall well-being.
6) Over-apologizing
Now, this one might seem a little odd.
After all, isn’t apologizing a good thing? Well, yes and no.
Apologizing when you’ve done something wrong is a sign of maturity.
But constantly saying sorry for things that aren’t your fault? That can be a sign of low self-worth.
If you’re always apologizing, it might be because you feel like you’re always in the wrong.
You might feel like you’re a burden or that you’re constantly causing problems.
However, you’re not—you’re human and making mistakes is part of that.
It’s time to stop taking the blame for everything that goes wrong.
Next time you find yourself about to apologize, pause and ask yourself if you really did something wrong.
7) Being ignored or overlooked
Nothing chips away at your self-worth quite like being consistently ignored or overlooked.
It’s like you’re screaming into a void, with no one bothering to listen.
Whether it’s your opinions in a group discussion or your needs in a relationship, if they’re constantly being brushed aside, it’s time to take notice.
You have a voice—you have thoughts, feelings, and ideas that are worth being heard.
8) Emotional invalidation
Your feelings are valid—always—and if someone constantly dismisses your emotions, telling you that you’re overreacting or that you shouldn’t feel a certain way, that’s a huge red flag.
Emotional invalidation can lead to self-doubt and make you question your own feelings.
It can make you feel like there’s something wrong with you for feeling the way you do—but there’s not.
Your emotions are your own as they’re real and they’re valid.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is not someone you should tolerate.
Wrapping up
If you’ve made it this far, hopefully you’re starting to realize something essential: You are deserving of respect.
Because struggling with low self-worth isn’t about being humble, it’s about not recognizing your own value.
It blinds you from seeing your own worth and the respect you truly deserve.
Remember, self-worth comes from within.
It’s not determined by how others treat you but by how you allow yourself to be treated.
Stop tolerating these behaviors from others and learn to stand up for yourself.
You, my friend, are worth it!
