A listicle of Ways of Truly Showing Respect and Not Just Mouthing it
The word respect is ambiguous and often thrown around mindlessly, but it is one of the essential traits to have. In other words, respect is something that can be acquired when it’s missing from one’s humane toolkits. Even though respect is essential, being respectful is the real action behind that word. Meaning, that someone can have respect in an actual sense but does not depict habits that show they regard people.
Being respectful is more of a doing word. It is that silent action you depict intentionally to acknowledge someone else on a deep humane level. Respect is like honoring someone. The way you treat people around you shows how much you respect them. Often people mistake respecting a particular feature/aspect of a person for respecting them wholly even as a human being.
When you respect people as human beings, it tells in your behavior in many easily overlooked ways than when you do not. Which is kind of my business to point out those seemingly shady, traits or inaction.
Being respectful is a silent action you depict intentionally to acknowledge someone else on a deep humane level.
Some of these nuanced ways of showing people you respect them more than just saying it includes:
You respect their space
Respecting someone’s space or personal space tells a lot about how you respect them as humans. Simply because we’re all entitled to the space our body occupies at any time. Therefore invading that space could be summed up as invading one’s privacy, flouting body safety rules, and even enraging their spirit.
You respect their belongings (even in their absence)
Saying that you respect someone is one thing, but disregarding the very things that make their life more comfortable and livable externally counts as one of the biggest disrespects. Simply because most of our belongings help form our sanctuaries. And a sanctuary need not be desecrated by a bunch of disrespectful friends, colleagues, or family members in their guises. Even in our absence.
You respect their opinions
Everyone has got an opinion and we are all entitled to them. Opinions are mainly formed based on one’s perspective. So, considering that not everyone thinks and acts the same, it shouldn’t be such a wrenching experience to acknowledge others’ opinions irrespective of how disparaging or different an opinion might come off to you. You don’t have to dismiss the person entirely as that may come off disrespectful. You can at least acknowledge where they might be coming from. This shows you respect their opinions — and politely disagree.
You respect their boundaries
People who hate that you set up boundaries are the ones who were benefiting from your lack of them
We need boundaries to look after ourselves. We also need boundaries to teach others how to treat us. So when someone disrespects the boundaries you’ve set, they are disregarding you as a person.
You respect them as a person in totality
Respecting someone shouldn’t be something enforced. It is an inherent habit one must cultivate and show toward others — inclusive of their financial status, class, tribe, diverseness, race, or whatever metrics works for you. Respecting a feature in someone and disregarding others shows your conditional respectfulness which can be equally dismissed as contempt.
You respect the people in their lives
What comes after respecting someone as a person is extending those regards to the people in their life. There’s no need of saying or demonstrating you’ve got total respect for someone but not their mother or spouse for instance. Speaking about them in disdain or contempt counts as well. exceeding the boundaries of the person you respect exercises itself when you talk about the people in their life without permission too. Again, if you’re unidirectional in your regard for them which counts as a form of disregard anyway.
You respect their choices
Our choices just like opinions are formed based on our experiences and perspective. Our likes and dislikes, lifestyle, style etcetera. You don’t always have to agree with every choice people make but you can at least respect where they might be coming from. Having someone disrespect the choice you’ve made is equal to them disrespecting you as a person.
You respect their decisions
Respecting someone’s decision means you’re treating them as a mature able thinking person who is capable of coming up with thoughts and proclaiming words about them to bring them to fruition. You’re appreciating this process — which is deeper than just dismissing them as mere “stupid” words or actions. Because any reasonable person is the kind that makes a lot of decisions — whether it sits well with you or not. Respect that.
You respect their past
This is notably important in romantic relationships or friendships. You can’t say you truly respect someone as your spouse or friend or family yet you can’t respect and accept their past for what it was. You can’t love a person without embracing their past, which includes respecting how they navigated it to become the person you now crush on.
Showing respect brings you fortunate things. For one, it improves your relationships with people as no one likes to hang around those who bring them down — purposefully. Nobody wants to be around people who don’t respect their space, opinions, boundaries, as a person, the people in their life, their choices, decisions, and life in general. Having and showing respect for others says a lot about how you regard yourself — oftentimes, a secure, well-rounded person.
You don’t have to like everything about a person, but you can at least respect them no matter what — even if through silence.
One of the major ways to inculcate respect has a whole lot to do with introspection and self-awareness. This is a major way of turning a new leaf if you tend to look down on people by evaluating how your demeaning actions towards others, when directed at you makes you feel?
The way you treat others shows how you treat yourself and the respect you give others, you’re bound to receive back.
Respect is reciprocal.
Don’t disregard anyone who can breathe, think and act just like you do. No one deserves less. Not even kids. Show respect and talk less about being respectful and contribute to making the Universe more live-ly.
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