Respect

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“Find out what that means to me!”   - Aretha Franklin

Mrs Franklin is right.  In order to respect others, we need to find out more about them, but also we need to know ourselves in order to be respected by others.  

Respect is the base of any human relationships.  Respect for ourselves and to others. 

Human decency starts there.  

“ Don’t do to other what you wouldn’t want done to yourself.” is also a very good start, if you’re not sure what respect is for others.

A simple quote that says it all.  You want to treat others the way you would like to be be treated.  

Everyone’s values and views are different, because no one was brought up in the same way.  (Values, religions, community and more)

But if you start with treating others in the way you would want to be treated, you’ll be off to a great start. 

Add Love, Care and Compassion in the mix and you’ve got yourself a recipe for success.

Respect is accepting a “NO” from someone and never going beyond their limit.  Seeing the boundaries and no crossing them.   

Respect is being able to acknowledge a mistake we’ve made and saying “SORRY”.  And Mean it.  

Respect is accepting ourselves and others as they are.  Not changing them, no matter what differences there is.  

All of these apply for others and ourselves.   ESPECIALLY for ourselves.

REFLECTIONS:

• What does respect mean to you?

• What are your limits and boundaries?

• Do you feel respected?   How do you make sure people respect you?

• Would you change anything about that?