*R*E*S*P*E*C*T* is a Choice

Receiving respect from others is important because it helps us to feel safe and to express ourselves. Being respected by important people in our lives teaches us how to be respectful toward others and ourselves.

Respect means that you accept somebody for who they are, even when they’re different from you or you don’t agree with them. Respect in your relationships builds feelings of trust, safety, and wellbeing. Respect doesn’t have to come naturally – it is something you learn.

How do we learn? We live in a world that is filled with conflict and negative criticism. We like to believe we are open-minded toward people who see the world uniquely. However, that may not be the case always. Expressing yourself can be done in different ways and the way you choose is important. You can either say negative things and tear people down or express your views with respect. It is essential for us to show respect to the people around us. It's not difficult if we truly make an attempt. It is a choice we make with our words and actions toward other people.

Snapshot from Kids Help Line. Helpful for adults too.

Showing respect for another person is one of the components of civil society. The belief is that members of a family, a city, a town, a country, or a region of the world are deserving of respect. Showing respect for human life and human beings (all humans, whether we agree with them or not) is important to civil society and the civil world.

When we show others respect, it acknowledges their human right and worthiness to be respected. When it is believed that a certain race, ethnic group, nationality, skin color, gender, or age is unworthy of respect, the gates open for abuse. This has been seen many times, especially in the past few years. This is why respect should be a common courtesy among us all.

Those who are not respected do not feel respected. The history of the fight for human rights around the world is the struggle to gain acknowledgment from others. Respect for human beings encompasses the granting, preserving, and protection of these rights. Without respect, these rights will be missing.

Borrowed from https://bit.ly/3aMdzBn

What holds you back from respecting others, especially if their opinion is different from yours? I see so much of that on social media these days. It is very sad that people feel they can say anything to anyone and are so quick to spread negativity and hate, rather than being and having respectful conversations.

Borrowed from https://bit.ly/3O7jAqm

In his article in The Atlantic, Jonathan Haidt says "...gradually, social-media users became more comfortable sharing intimate details of their lives with strangers and corporations. As I wrote in a 2019 Atlantic article with Tobias Rose-Stockwell, 'they became more adept at putting on performances and managing their personal brand—activities that might impress others but that do not deepen friendships in the way that a private phone conversation will.'" and "Once social-media platforms had trained users to spend more time performing and less time connecting, the stage was set for the major transformation."

I see this every day, do you? It is time we take back the building of relationships rather than branding ourselves out and telling everyone they are wrong in their beliefs and opinion. Opinions are just that, opinions! It is one person's belief about a topic. Our beliefs drive our decisions and opinions and others' beliefs drive theirs. Why can't we simply listen to one another without judgment? Respect is lacking. It is heartbreaking!

What are your thoughts on respecting others even when you disagree with them? How do you handle the situation?

Blessings,

Resources:

Haidt, J. (2022, May 25). Why the past 10 years of American life have been uniquely stupid. The Atlantic. Retrieved June 9, 2022, from https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/05/social-media-democracy-trust-babel/629369/?fbclid=IwAR01Ootxmbpli_hLN_uCkzGt1ZU6dttWta8c3YUDFzqEjGW-wcdNUS6Sc1g

How to be respectful and respected. Kids Helpline. (2021, October 26). Retrieved June 9, 2022, from https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens/issues/all-about-respect#:~:text=Respect%20means%20that%20you%20accept,it%20is%20something%20you%20learn.

—, A., & Says:, N. J. (2020, December 14). Importance of respect for others: All about respecting others. Open Education Portal. Retrieved June 9, 2022, from https://www.openeducationportal.com/importance-of-respect-for-others/