In conversations, ‘You deserve better’ can be used in a lot of conditions. It could signify a dismissal, a breakup, or an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. Whatever the use case is, I have curated 20 responses to ‘You deserve better’ that would inspire you to redefine your worth, affirm external projections, and provide clarity where needed.
The Way I Have Been Hurt So Many Times I Wonder If I Do
‘The way I have been hurt so many times I wonder if I do’ is a thoughtful way to open up to someone who says ‘you deserve better.’ What you are trying to do here is to let them in on some of your doubts about you deserving better like they just said.
- The consistent hurt I’ve faced leaves me wondering if I’m even deserving of better.
- I have been hurt by a lot of people so many times that I doubt if I do.
Yes. I Am Moving On From All Of This
You can respond by saying “Yes. I am moving on from all of this” if you feel the same way about the person who just told you that you deserve better. It is a sincere and affirmative response to show that you agree with the person and you have decided that you were going for what’s better.
- I am actively choosing to move forward and distancing myself from every memory.
- I’ve made peace with the past and am now focused on moving on from it all.
I Prefer To Work Under These Conditions For Now
When you are job hunting, you could be told by the HR or employer that you are too good for the role. This is a good place to say ‘I can make do with this for now’ in response. The idea is that you agree with their claim of you being better but you’ll gladly accept the job instead of being idle.
- I think I’ll make do with this for the time being.
- I don’t mind working under these conditions for now.
I Know I Do. Thank You
You can sound appreciative in replying ‘You deserve better.’ I will recommend this when you get a remark like that from someone older or anybody you do not want to continue the conversation with. You can also use the following:
- I appreciate and understand your sentiment.
- I recognize that, and your words of affirmation are valued.
I Miss Him Though
In trying to console you after a breakup, you could be told that ‘You deserve better.’ Whether this is true or not, nobody will fault you for responding with an affirmation of how much you miss the person. Both men and women can use a response like this. Here are others:
- I can’t shake the feeling of missing her.
Is That The Reason I Never Get What I Want?
‘Is that the reason I never get what I want?’ can open you to deeper conversations as it indicates that you rarely have your way around people and things. With a response like this, you are going to force the person into trying to give you more emotional support.
- Could it be the reason I rarely get the things I desire?
- I wish I could be more deserving of the things I want to get.
I Still Want To Be Yours
One commonly used line for breakups is ‘You deserve better’ a suggestion that your partner isn’t good enough for you. In such a scenario, telling them that you still want to be theirs is a good way to phrase your reply. If you need other ideas, see the recommendations below:
- I choose to be with you and I still want to.
- Nothing is changing how I feel about you cause I still want to be yours.
I Am Just Coming To That Realization
‘I am just coming to that realization’ is a great response to ‘You deserve better’ when the person makes you understand how valued and appreciated you are. Some people can talk with us and make us see how worthy we are and if they say you deserve better or imply so, you can respond in the following ways:
- Thank you for helping me see things from this perspective. I’d never have thought myself to be any good.
- I am not sure you have any idea what you just did for me with this pep talk. You’ve transformed my mind in this little moment we discussed.
I Just Hope I Am Not Being Overly Ambitious
Someone could be giving you a confidence boost when they say ‘You deserve better.’ This is where you can respond by saying ‘I just hope I am not being overly ambitious’ because their words may be spurring you to aim for higher and if you are not careful, you may be overreaching.
- That’s true, but I have to be sure I am ready to take on challenges on that level.
- I don’t want to get burned out trying to do something I am not fully capable of.
I Am Not Complaining
You can respond to ‘You deserve better’ with ‘I am not complaining’ especially when the goal of the statement is to point out that you are settling for less. It could be because of your relationship status, your job, or your paycheck. As long as the person isn’t telling you that because they genuinely care, a response like this would do just fine.
- Thanks, but I am happy with her and I know he is good enough for me.
- It may not appear so but I love my job as it offers me the (mention a benefit) I need.
Thank You. I Truly Appreciate Your Kindness And Positivity
Another scenario where you can be told that you deserve better is when someone is trying to inspire you to attempt to do more or put in effort to achieve greater heights. Your response in this light can come in the following ways:
- Your positivity continues to influence my thought process as always. Thank you so much.
- You are so kind, and I am truly grateful for how you always fill me with positivity and optimism.
This Is About The Best I Can Get At This Point
One time I had a job that paid me one-fourth of what I used to earn after being jobless for nearly two years. When I told my friends, they laughed and some said I deserved better. Knowing that there were no jobs at the time, my response was ‘This is about the best I can get at the moment.’ It is a sincere way to say you know there’s more but you are happy with where you are and the progress you are making.
- I know I do, but with the current trends in this job market, I can only be grateful for this opportunity.
- A better job is on its way but for now, I’ll make do with what I’ve got.
Yeah. I Guess I Am Done Accepting The Bare Minimums From Friendship And Relationship
If you ever had friends or people you could go all the way for but would never lift a finger for you, you’ll understand someone who says ‘You deserve better’ in such a circumstance. That’s a time when you can say ‘I am done accepting the bare minimums from people I could go all out for.’
- Token efforts are all I get despite my nerve-racking sacrifices. It is stopping already.
- It’s not that I demand too much. I do enough to make the demands I request.
Now I Know Better
‘Now I know better’ is another good response to ‘You deserve better’ when someone makes you understand your value. Whether they wanted to do so or subconsciously did so, a response like this helps them realize that you are now aware of how much you are worth and you are grateful to them.
- So true. Thank you for helping me see things this way.
- I couldn’t agree less. This discussion has been beyond my expectations.
I Was Feeling Stuck. Thanks For Your Encouraging Words
This is another way you can respond to ‘You deserve better’ when it is coming from someone who just helped you get clarity on what to do either to better your career pursuits or move on from a relationship. ‘I was feeling stuck and didn’t think any better of myself’ is a good suggestion and remember to sprinkle some appreciation.
- I am so grateful. I wonder how I didn’t see it that way.
- If not for you, I’d have made a mistake that’d have ruined my entire life. Thank you so much.
I Guess I Have Neglected My Health For Too Long
‘I guess I have neglected my health for too long’ is a good response if the idea of you deserving better comes from someone who considers you to be passive towards things that concern your health. The person could be a medical professional or someone who understands your routine and approach toward your health and feels you could do better.
- Even though you are the expert here, I can’t disagree with your views.
- I would do better. I am too scared of any complications.
I Deserve To Be Happy And I Cannot Wait For The Tides To Turn In My Favor
You can use a response like this when you are constantly faced with ill-treatment from friends and people in a relationship. It is perfect for you when someone who understands what you’ve gone through tells you how deserving you are. See the suggestions below for more inspiration:
- I cannot wait for when everything changes and I start seeing the better things I deserve.
- I know I deserve to be happy and all. I hope it starts happening sooner.
You Don’t Even Know Half Of Everything I Have Had To Endure
There are times when the individual who says ‘You deserve better’ does not have a comprehensive assessment of the situation but is just trying to encourage you. This is a good time to tell them that ‘You don’t even know half of everything I have had to endure.’ This is not to say they are ignorant and should be quiet, but take the conversation further. A response like this is sure to continue the conversation.
- There are so many sides to this matter that I’ve not shared with you yet.
- To think I only just told you a tiny part of the entire issue.
This Has Always Been A Problem For Me Even From Childhood
If you are anything like me, someone who is hardly ever ambitious and always wants to stick with the most comfortable standard even if it is the lowest, you are going to get ‘You deserve better’ a lot of times. ‘This has always been a problem for me even from childhood’ is my favorite response in these situations and it helps my confidence because most times I get told how deserving I am.
- You wouldn’t blame me, mate. I grew up always expecting the lowest possible standard.
- It wasn’t easy growing up so I guess it has conditioned my mind to always settle for less.
With Friends Like You, Anyone Would Have A Good Life
If they are your friend and want you to realize how deserving you are, you can respond to their ‘You deserve better’ remark with an appreciation for their friendship. One way to go about this is to say ‘There’s no way I won’t have a good life with you as my friend.’ You can also say:
- I value our friendship, especially the way you support and encourage me to be more.
- Thank you so much. With friends like you, anyone would be confident in their abilities.
Before You Go
A good response to ‘You deserve better’ can only be determined by the context in which the remark came. This guide has explored every possible context and crafted responses to ‘You deserve better’ that would strengthen your conversations.
