The Standard I Deserve Starts with Me

It’s easy for us to look around and wish people would show up the way we hope. Friends who are honest, partners who are loyal, and colleagues who are consistent. We all want respect, care, and reliability, and we probably deserve it. But the truth is, the most powerful standards we’ll ever live by aren’t set by anyone else; they’re the ones we set for ourselves.

High standards aren’t just about who we allow into our lives. They’re about how we show up for our own lives. When we demand more from ourselves (discipline, self-respect, courage, and resilience) we step into a version of ourselves that doesn’t just talk about empowerment but lives it.

When we hold ourselves accountable, we stop waiting for others to define our worth. We stop settling for “good enough.” We begin to lead our own journeys with clarity and confidence. That kind of energy is magnetic; it inspires others without us even trying.

As young women building our careers, relationships, and dreams, this shift is powerful. Setting high standards for ourselves means:

• In our work, we go the extra mile, not for recognition, but because excellence is our baseline.

• In our relationships, we model the respect and honesty we expect, making it clear we won’t settle for less.

• In our personal growth, we invest in our learning, our well-being, and our dreams, because we know we’re worth it.

When we start with us, the rest follows. The world begins to mirror the level we’re operating at.

So yes, we expect loyalty, respect, and effort from others. But we make sure we expect even more from ourselves, the standard we truly deserve.