OK, I apologize for putting Aretha Franklin’s,
R-E-S-P-E-C-T in your head, but it did get your attention, right? Now for the rest of the day you will be singing, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T tell you what it means to me. R-E-S-P-E-C-T taking care of T-C-B. (sock it to me, sock it to me..)
Respect; one of those things we all want, yet we can’t touch it or hold in our hands. It is not actually something we can see, however we see and feel evidence of it in the way a person acts, treats others (all living things) and most importantly, treats themSelf. Why is respect such a desired commodity in this world? What does it mean to be respected, to be respectful and to be respectable?
Let me begin with a quick definition of respect and you will readily see why we it is something we covet. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary respect means;
To feel admiration for (someone or something): to regard (someone or something) as being worthy of admiration because of good qualities.
To act in a way which shows that you are aware of (someone’s rights, wishes, etc.).
To consider worthy of high regard.
Looking at these definitions it appears that respect is given and experienced as a result of the way we are perceived in this world. The way we are perceived in this world is our expression of who we “believe” we are.
The reason I use the word “believe” in the above sentence is that how we express in the world is not necessarily who we truly are, only who we believe we are in that moment of expression.
How do we garner respect? Of the many ways of “being” in this world here are three that are sure to bring you the respect you desire and deserve.
Be Respectable; be in this world in a way that would invite the respect of others. Honor life, all of life, and all that life is. Be the goodness in life you desire to see and experience.
Be trusting and trustworthy. Be kind and compassionate. Be understanding and magnanimous towards all others.
Be Respectful; honor all others for who they are; a human being just like you, doing the best they can within the circumstances under which they find themselves. No one knows the path another has traveled, is traveling or will travel.
Yes, there is the appearance of similar experiences; however each experience of life is unique to that person based on their thoughts, beliefs, prior experiences and perspective of Life.
Being respectful towards others isn’t to imply that we agree with or condone what they have done or are doing. We are merely honoring their right to live their life as they choose, just as it would be our desire that our right to do so is honored.
Honor and respect all of life, all living things. Honor and respect our planet Earth.
“It is in our best interest to respect Mother Earth for what we leave behind we inherit upon our return.” — Jim Phillips
When we are respectable, we are respectful of and towards all others.
Be Self respecting; respect begins at home in the way we are towards ourSelf. Why should we expect others to respect us if we don’t respect ourSelf?
Self-respect is Self-love and Self-appreciation towards oneself. It isn’t arrogance, conceit or selfishness, although it is Self-centeredness, however not in the way we have come to believe self-centeredness to be.
Being self-centered simply means that you are in the middle of all that is happening around and within you. It means that all you experience in Life emanates from within you outwardly.
Being Self-respecting means you honor and trust the fullness of who you are. You accept, honor and appreciate the body you have by nurturing it with proper sleep, nutrition and activity.
You honor your Self with attentive appreciation for who you are, what you have done and are in the process of creating.
You honor your Self by being compassionate and non-judgmental regardless of what you have chosen to experience. Do unto your Self as you would have others do unto you.
Your honor your Self by being transparent to your Self and accepting responsibility for how you express in this world.
Think kind, loving, empowering thoughts about your Self. Believe in your Self in empowering in empowering ways. Release all that you think and beleive about you that is not supportive of the experience of you that you desire.
Respect is experienced by being Self-Respecting, Respectable and Respectful. Imagine if each of us consciously applied these three aspects of respect to our daily living. Perhaps, Humanity would have a renewed respect for itSelf.
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Like this blog post? Please share with others you know who might benefit.
And be sure to subscribe to my blog updates so you never miss a post.
