A tip for maintaining self-respect and self-love

I’m currently going through some struggles and facing adversity, ranging from subtle scolding to outright hostility, from several people. I won’t go into the details because they don’t matter, and I don’t want to sound dramatic. Also, I should mention that I generally don’t suffer from low self-esteem. However, there are moments when these attacks get under my skin, and I start doubting many aspects of my identity; imposter syndrome begins to take over.

This is what I found useful and wanted to share: I think of my younger self. What does ‘young’ mean? It’s a range — from being a little kid to my teenage years. Youth is innocent. It’s not that you are perfect when you are young, but you are doing your best to navigate this complicated world in an honest way, overcoming your constraints and insecurities. You study, maybe you play sports, you spend time with friends, maybe you’re observing your family going through crises, or maybe you have your own struggles — like a heartbreak from your first relationship. Maybe you get A grades at school, or maybe you’re struggling. Maybe you’re social, or maybe you’re shy. You are. You are who you truly are. You are navigating new territories and stepping into the unknown future without the burden of scars, mistakes, and misfortunes that accumulate through life. I repeat — you’re innocent at a very profound level, and in many ways, you’re at your best. You dream and you doubt. You succeed and stumble. No one should scold or attack you when you’re a kid; no one should plant the seeds of…