I Respect Myself When I Try—Because Trying Is What Truly Matters

 

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had days where “trying” felt like the most unglamorous thing in the world. Everyone seems to celebrate the person who crossed the finish line, not the one who kept stumbling on the track. Social media doesn’t exactly hand out trophies for people who said, “Well, at least I tried.”

And yet, I’ve come to realize something: I feel the most self-respect not when I’ve achieved perfection, but when I’m genuinely trying. That moment when I decide, “I’ll give it my best shot”—even if the world yawns and looks away—that’s when I know I’m honoring myself.

Why Trying Deserves More Credit Than It Gets

We live in a culture obsessed with outcomes. Promotions, gold medals, six-pack abs—pick your poison. The message is clear: results are everything. Effort? Cute, but come back when you’ve got a trophy.

But here’s the problem with that logic: life doesn’t always hand out neat, measurable rewards. You can work hard, prepare thoroughly, and still not land the job. You can put your soul into a project and still not get the recognition. Does that mean the effort was worthless? Absolutely not.

Trying is proof of courage. It’s the middle finger you quietly raise against fear, doubt, and the temptation to quit. And whether or not you win the medal, the act of showing up for yourself builds a foundation of self-respect that no applause—or lack of it—can take away.

My Relationship With Trying (It’s Complicated)

There have been times I wanted to skip the “trying” stage altogether. You know that inner voice that whispers, “Why bother if you’ll fail?” Mine has VIP access to my brain.

But here’s the twist: the only times I’ve truly lost respect for myself were the times I didn’t even try. When I let fear or laziness call the shots, I felt smaller. On the other hand, when I’ve pushed forward—writing a difficult story, learning a new skill, or just showing up when I wanted to hide—I’ve felt taller, even if the results weren’t Instagram-worthy.

So yes, my relationship with trying is complicated. But like any good relationship, it works when I put in the effort. (See what I did there?)

A Personal Example: My YouTube Channel

Take my YouTube channel, for instance. If you looked only at the numbers, you might think it’s a flop. Views trickle in, subscribers aren’t exactly lining up, and success feels… well, shy.

But here’s the thing: I’m still at it. I keep posting, experimenting, and learning. In the process, I’ve discovered so many new things—video editing, storytelling, even photography. Honestly, the channel has become a classroom for me, one where the grades don’t matter but the lessons do.

It’s not a success story yet, but it’s a trying story. And that’s enough to make me respect myself. Because while algorithms may or may not reward me, I’m showing up. Everyday. I am always thinking what i should post next. My brain is always active and in thinking mode and that keeps me away from thinking negative stuff, or overindulging in meaningless issues. And that counts.

The Psychology of Effort

Psychologists have a term for this: “self-efficacy.” It’s the belief that you can take action and influence your circumstances. Trying is the engine of self-efficacy. Every time you act, even imperfectly, you reinforce the message that you’re capable of doing hard things.

On the flip side, doing nothing sends a different message: that you’re powerless. That’s why trying—even failing—keeps the lights of self-respect on, while not trying at all leaves you fumbling in the dark.      Failure hurts less than the regret of not trying at all.

Humor in the Hard Stuff

Of course, I don’t want to turn this into a solemn TED Talk. Life has a way of making our “trying” look ridiculous. Like the time I attempted yoga and ended up looking like a pretzel someone sat on. Did I nail the pose? Absolutely not. But did I laugh, keep going, and respect myself for showing up on the mat? Absolutely yes.

Trying doesn’t have to be glamorous. In fact, it rarely is. It’s sweaty, awkward, and full of bloopers. Which is precisely why it deserves respect.

How to Respect Yourself Through Trying

Here are three simple ways to shift your perspective:

1. Redefine success. Instead of asking “Did I win?” ask, “Did I try?”

2. Celebrate the effort. Reward yourself not just for results, but for the courage it took to begin.

3. Embrace the bloopers. Mistakes aren’t proof you’re failing—they’re proof you’re participating.

The Quiet Power of Trying

At the end of the day, trying is what matters because it’s the only part truly in our control. Results are fickle. Markets change. Bosses change. Algorithms definitely change. But your decision to keep showing up? That’s yours alone.

Self-respect isn’t earned by waiting for applause. It’s earned in the quiet moments when you keep going despite no guarantees.

So the next time you hear that voice asking, “Why bother if you’ll fail?”—remind yourself of this: trying is already a win. It means you’re still in the game. And as far as self-respect goes, that’s worth more than any trophy.