Life /
Polish people have low self-esteem? [80]
the ice queen
This often happens to me, too. When people get to know me, and (I have to admit) when I feel comfortable enough to 'let my hair down' (because I am terribly shy), people get to see another side of me. But that takes time.
Honesty often isolates but only ones trying honesty would know about it.
I am such a great guy that I would never intimidate someone showing his weak side (at least consiously) but I've seen sharks eating flesh out of such people and had my share of performing in defesnive mode afterward.
Yes. I have to agree with that. I think that healthy self-esteem is the greatest gift one can have. And those who do not have good self-esteem deserve respect and protection.
"bully"
That reminds me of a discussion we had in one of my 'psychology of self' class. Someone said something along the lines that one had to deserve respect in order to get it. And someone else replied that, instead, our behaviour is under our own control. Basically, that I can choose to respect someone even if they are behaving in a disrespectful way towards themselves. A person whose behaviour is inviting disrespect does not force me to behave in a disrespectful manner towards them. I am the one who controls my behaviour. And my behaviour can stem from my values, not from another's behaviour. Easier said than done, but still. Anyway, I said I was going to be here for an hour only to take advantage of the nice weather outside. So, I will leave now but this is a very interesting discussion. Thank you all and take care.