In several Life's engagements, many seem to have been treated unfairly. This may not be unconnected to how some compare what they have to what others have and think they've got the short end of the stick. The frustration is quite understandable. But, why not stop for a check and try this 'titbits' believed to be helpful in other Life's journey and engagements. Sure you'll regain your self esteem and confidence.
Respect is the sense of worth or personal value that you attach to someone. Respect is an overall evaluation you give someone based on; what that person is doing with their life; how they treat you and others; whether they are honest or not and if they seem to consistently do good things, large or small, for other people. Thus, on the one hand, respect is a positive view that you form of how someone is living their life, and on the other hand, self-respect is your view of how you’re living your life.
While we can control some of Life's 'unfair' challenges, others may not be controlled but can be shaped based on how they are handled. This helps shape who we are.
Here are three areas of respect – self-respect, respect for others and other people’s respect for you. All three of these areas of respect are very important.
SELF RESPECT
Self respect means giving and defining your own worth and value as a human being. Come to rhink of this: if you do not respect yourself, it will be more difficult for you to respect anyone else. So it all begins with self-respect. According to Benjamin Franklin, "the best thing to give your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, a deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; and to yourself, RESPECT!"
I know the BIG question now is 'How do I go about respecting myself?'
See a list of ideals that are fundamental to self-respect. Once you begin to genuinely adopt and develop these, you’ll be on your way to developing a healthy level of self-respect. Meanwhile, certain ideals have the greatest impact on your level of self-respect and you’ll have to determine how that quality will be deployed within your life.
• Understand the value of good manners and conduct. This will make you feel good about yourself, and, in return, others will respect you for your good manners and proper conduct.
• Keeping an Honest attitude, with yourself and with others.
• Proper understanding of the impact of balanced nutrition/Exercise.
•Understanding Financial responsibility, which is a cornerstone to independence.
• Learning how to listen. Respect the beliefs of others.
• Learn how to accept personal responsibility for your own conduct. Part of being a respected person involves taking responsibility for your own actions.
• Learn when to Apologize, because accepting responsibilities involves formally apologising for wrongdoing and striving to make amends where necessary.
• Learn how to understand which of your friends are food influences and which Ines are Bad influences. This is ease trial because we must learn to emulate those who are good.
• Having important goals and plans for reaching them. Make sure any goal you set, you achieve/attain them. Thus, you gain strength to challenge yourself a little more. The more goals you attain, the more your self-respect will grow.
• Valuing Academics and other forms of Education, which is an important key for for knowledge.
You should address each of these ideals within your own life in order to carry a well-rounded respect for yourself. If you haven’t done so already, start working on each and every one of them. Keep a journal to track your progress. And, as always, if you need help with any of them, turn to a valued listener for help.
SHOWING RESPECT FOR OTHERS
In like manner, just like with yourself, when you demonstrate respect for others, you give value to their being and ideals. Moreover, you’ll make someone feel good by granting them respect, provided, of course, that it’s something that they deserve.
One of the best ways to show respect for someone is to truly listen to another’s point of view. Obviously, we’ll not always agree with one another on every topic (and you should never adopt a point of view with which you do not agree), but we should allow each other to have and express our own views – regardless of whether we agree with them or not. According to Bono, "To be united is a great thing; But to respect the right to be different is maybe even higher." This places a higher demand.
This suggests you owe everyone a basic level of respect for being a fellow human being, but your level of respect for others will vary from person to person. Just like your self-respect will grow as you master the ideals discussed above, your level of respect for others will vary depending upon your view of them and their own self-respect.
Our attention should be brought to something here. There’s nothing wrong with affording some people greater respect than others. You should be kind and polite to everyone, no question about that. However, for obvious reasons, some of us simply deserve more respect than others. For example, I think we would all agree that a consistently honest person deserves more respect than a habitual liar. So, always be kind, polite and afford a basic level of respect for your fellow man, but you shouldn’t afford beyond basic respect to those who aren’t working on ideals you believe to be important.
Respect is one of mankind’s most noble sentiments. The highest levels of respect are always earned – never given. This is true of self-respect as well as respect for others. Before granting the highest level of self-respect or respect for others, make sure the person is worthy of the honor.
BECOMING MORE RESPECTED BY OTHERS
A. Admit when you're wrong and be humble about your mistakes.
B. Don't apologize when you've done nothing wrong.
C. Present yourself respectably.
D. Don't let your emotions get the best of you.
E. Show that you are a leader.
F. You are a problem solver.
G. Earn respect by giving it.
H. Keep your word.
"Remember that respect for ourselves guides our morals: respect for others guides our manners". ~Laurence Stone~
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