My first blog post.
This post stems from the word “respect.” This whole post and the questions asked were just things I asked myself as I just continued to think about the term and what I said to answer the prior questions. This post is free-formed; my literal thoughts as they were happening in the order that they happened.
What does it mean to be respectful? What does it mean to have respect?
The dictionary definition of respect is “due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights or traditions of others”
due regard: take into consideration or account
So, to be respectful, to have respect, (from the dictionary definitions) means to take into consideration the feelings, wishes, rights or traction of others. Respect means you accept someone for who they are, even if they are different from you or you don’t agree with them.
Without respect within our relationships we cannot build feelings of trust, safety, and wellbeing.
How do you show respect?
- Look for the best in others rather than concentration on their faults
- Show compassion to others
- Be polite
- Treat others the way you want to be treated
What does it mean to earn respect? Should all people be treated with respect?
Most people who adhere to “respect is earned not given” are typically people who are aggressive, “no-nonsense” people who value their time.
Are there other ways to view respect?
Things are not always black and white. You can believe both respect is earned and still be a person who opens the door to random strangers. You can believe that respect is earned, but you’re also not going to be rude to people you don’t know.
What does it mean to demand respect?
Forcefully ask people to respect you through usage of things like experience, position, money, social status, educational achievements, material achievements. It means to use threats and pride to get respect from people
Examples of what people who demand respect say:
- What do you know?
- What have you experienced?
- Do you know what I have done?
- I am the boss
What are ways to earn respect?
- Good active listening, not listening just to respond. Take the time to hear what the other person is communicating not just focusing on your own thoughts and opinions
- Refrain from bad-mouthing others. Socially, professionally, in general. If you have a problem with someone, bring it up to the person themselves privately and be transparent and honest about the issue.
- Be open to change, don’t be stubborn. Change is needed to grow and this means evaluating your negative behaviors, trying new activities, and learning new skills.
My concluding thoughts about, and surrounding respect:
- Respect comes from treating others how you want to be treated.
- Respect is naturally earned, and received rightfully without demand.
- You can believe that respect is earned, but that doesn’t mean you’re also going to be rude to people you don’t know.
- Is respect synonymous to being empathetic and having empathy for others?