Respect- Give It To Get It.

What does it mean to give respect and get respect?

So many people think respect is something you have to earn. I cringe inwardly whenever I hear someone say “people have to earn my respect”.

Respect is not something that should have to be earned. It should be given freely and gotten back in return. When you think someone else has to earn your respect, that means you think you are better than them. You have put yourself on a pedestal, instead of being on equal ground. It’s disrespectful to the other person, and when your disrespectful, guess what you get back, disrespect.

I get so tired of hearing people complain about how no one gives them respect, but when you ask them how they think they should give respect it’s always the same answer. People have to earn my respect. No wonder you get disrespected so much.

If you think that your respect has to be earned you will never get respect. If you want to get respect, change your way of thinking.

You give respect to get respect. Stop thinking you are better than everyone else. If you want to gain respect, you have to realize the world does not revolve around you. Take interest in other people, be genuinely interested in what they have to say. Listen before you speak.

You have to respect yourself first before anyone else will. A lot of you are probably puzzled by what that means. You may be thinking, how does respecting myself have anything to do with respecting others and getting respect? If you don’t have respect for yourself, you won’t show respect for others, and therefore you won’t get respect in return. It’s a big circle, everything is connected.

So what does it mean to have respect for yourself? It means you acknowledge you have something to offer others, but you aren’t arrogant about it. You don’t need to boast about what you can do, because your actions will show what you can do. Having respect for yourself means you show dignity and compassion towards yourself and others.

Once you can accomplish having respect for yourself and coming to terms with the fact that you aren’t better than everyone else, you are ready to respectfully interact with others.

Just remember, respect is reflected, meaning when you give respect you get it back, most of the time. If you do happen to come across someone who doesn’t give you respect, no matter how respectful you are to them, just walk away and end the relationship.

Everyone deserves respect. It shouldn’t be something you have to earn.