respect

when I think about respect, Aretha’s words beat out in my head ‘R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find out what it means to me!’ I know it means the world to me and I need to be able to respect someone to have a relationship with them. Of course respect starts at home, and this means that we must respect ourselves. Then we know when we are not being treated with respect in relationships, it then registers that there is something wrong. If we have no respect for ourselves, then being treated disrespectfully by others may not even register that this is not appropriate.

The word respect comes from the latin respectus meaning “regard,” lit. “act of looking back at one”. It seems that we need to get a bit of distance to clearly see and acknowledge another and are then able to extend this necessary attitude to them. Having an objective overview or picture of someone means we can more clearly see their strengths & gifts, including ourselves. This is nothing to do with ego, it is about clear acknowledgment and then understanding of others. It supports us in keeping clear boundaries and we can all thrive in the ensuing environment.

If I am treated with respect then I feel safe interacting with the person. Even though we may not understand each other all the time, respect often acts like a rope bridge that can carry us to the other shore (if we are interested enough in discovering it?) Of course by traveling to the other shore and getting to know the stranger that faces us, we have more possibility of real-ating with them.

The eight important points about respect:

1. Respect fosters trust, safety and relaxation in relationships.

2. Respect often has to be earnt, firstly by treating others with respect.

3. Being respectable doesn’t necessarily mean you deserve respect.

4. Respect fosters a safe environment where our differences can be appreciated & valued.

5. Respect adds value for everyone, it is a valuable service.

6. Respect starts with self respect.

7. Respect fosters respect in others.

8. Respect looks for honor in self and others and our behavior.

As a parting note, I will leave you with the Queen of Soul’s performance of Respect in 1990, enjoy……

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