I feel the basis of respect is in respecting yourself, who you are, your abilities and character.
Wonderful if we can pick this up at an early age within a nurturing environment.
I have a cautionary tale for parents or caregivers in regards to respecting your child's abilities.
It was a sad case of a child who's mother believed she couldn't do anything and the child grew up with learned helplessness.
This can be applied to yourself - you may be far more capable than you think!
Stretch yourself every once in awhile. This helps you grow and with your new success comes confidence.
It's this confidence and courage that will be what often commands respect.
Folks will start to look up to you more for you did it!
Also know that you are worthy of respect.
Value your qualities and others will value them too!
I go back to raising a child. It's quite something if you raise your child to their greatest potential. Bring out those wonderful qualities and help them develop.
Now I want to reflect on some times in my life when respect was big for me.
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I wasn't really wanted as a child for I was the third girl and my parents really wanted a boy.(at least that was the vibe/energy I picked up on and it wasn't lifted until I gave them a grandson)
This effected me a lot in my teen years when I so wanted for someone to love and want me. It is at this age that boys will want you for sexual reasons. I was tempted to trade sexual favors, to be wanted and some how I thought it would bring me love. But that was not the case.
Out at tree planting camp (where there was lots of romances starting up) I befriended a woman who had a wonderful relationship with a fairly popular guy and I saw that it was based on respect.
I was realizing too at this point that I was worthy of respect and changed my action to start commanding respect. I would not tolerate people disrespecting me or treating me poorly.
There was another time in my life when I wanted respect.
After my first marriage broke up because of adultery, I met my now husband and we started hanging out together (I was going to say dating but it wasn't that formal) I had been single for awhile and I loved him and the feeling seemed mutual. I wanted him to marry me, my thinking along the lines of that old-school saying "make an honest woman of me."
I knew respect was important and I made sure my actions portrayed this. The relationship was built on respect and I can say that we've been happily married for nearly 25 years now!
For the @ecotrain QOTW you can choose one of the following questions:
"How do you command (not demand) the respect of your friends and peers?"
OR
"What does respect mean to you, who do you respect and why, and how do you demonstrate it?"
OR how ever you feel called to respond on the topic of respect.
Find our more and join in the conversation at: @ecotrain/ecotrain-question-of-the-week-launch-post-respect
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