You can improve your self-respect by practicing any of the following strategies:  Be assertive when somebody disrespects you. There is a difference between being aggressive and assertive. People with self-respect are not harsh but firm; when somebody disrespects them, they point it out clearly and tell them it is unacceptable.   Be focused and motivated. More often, effort matters more than the external show of money and success. Be kind to and respect others. You cannot be kind to yourself without being kind to other people. Instead of demeaning others, appreciate the good in them so you can do the same with yourself. Take personal responsibility rather than victimizing yourself.  Be kind, compassionate, and understanding to yourself.  Practice forgiving others and yourself. Move forward instead of dwelling in the past. Be grounded in reality and learn to take criticism objectively and constructively, not as a personal attack.