What exactly is respect? It’s the sense of worth or personal value that you attach to someone. Respect is an overall evaluation you give someone based on many factors – 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.
In short, respect is a positive view that you form of how someone is living their life. On the other hand, self-respect is your view of how you’re living your life. Here are some basic principles of respecting anyone regardless of gender, age, religion, socio-economic status and nationalities.
Respect yourself by…
- Being an honest person
Be genuine and true in your speech and actions. When your actions align with your conscience and moral values, you are being honest to yourself. Also learn to accept responsibility for your own conduct. Apologising when you have done something wrong and striving to make amends
- Refusing to give in to negative peer pressure
Learn to discern which of your friends are good influences and which ones are bad influences. When you give in to negative peer pressure, you value other people’s opinions more and hence are not listening to your inner voice.
Respect others by …
- Seeking consent
This means asking for permission from a person before you make a decision or proceed with what you have planned.
Image credits: https://mcckc.edu/images/ac/counseling/whatisconsent.jpg
- Listening to the opinions of others respectfully
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.
- Not bullying others
Engaging in gossips or spreading rumours is also a form of bullying. People are all different and anyone needs to be treated with respect. If you feel that you are a victim of sexual harassment and sexual bullying, report to a teacher. Read more about this topic here: https://m.kidshealth.org/CHOC/en/teens/harassment.html?WT.ac=m-t-ra
- Exhibiting appropriate behaviour in public settings
Being aware of our actions and the impact they can make on others will help us respect others. Moving to the back of the bus when the bus is getting crowded is a respectful behaviour because you are making space for others to get to school on time. People who engage in anti-social behaviours, for example, smoking in close proximity to others who are non-smokers, engage in excessive drinking, saying foul and lewd language in public, do not show respect to themselves and to the others.
Here is a guide on how to respect girls:
Image credits: https://e2epublishing.info/blog/2016/9/8/a-dummies-guide-for-teenage-boys-in- how-to- respect-girls written by Jayneen Sanders from www.e2epublishing.info
Although the infographic is meant to educate teenage boys, remember that we have to show a basic level of respect for being a fellow human being, regardless of gender. You should be kind and polite to everyone – no question about that.
The level of respect for others will vary from person to person and there’s nothing wrong with affording some people greater respect than others. But 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.
Image credits: https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens/issues/all-about-respect
What can you do to enjoy mutually respectful relationships with others?
Sources:
- http://www.goodchoicesgoodlife.org/choices-for-young-people/r-e-s-p-e-c-t/
- http://www.goodchoicesgoodlife.org/choices-for-young-people/articles-156441/
- https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens/issues/all-about-respect
