What makes a respectful person

Respect — the ability to see and celebrate the value in ourselves and others — is the sixth core strength. This is the most complex of the core strengths. Developing the capacity for respect is a lifelong challenge. Our sense of self tends to be fragile. James But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. Romans Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

Every human being deserves to be respected. Respect itself is the base of many relationships. No friendship, relationship, marriage can survive if there is no mutual respect between the people. Respect is important because it sets the proper stage for all our human interactions. Friendship, love, and even basic effective communication must all start with respect. Everyone wants to be respected. To earn and deserve respect, though, you must also show respect to others.

Respect is a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. You should respect someone because of the hard work and determination they displayed while achieving whatever status they have.

While true friendship is rare and something to be treasured and valued, fake friends are quite toxic and should be avoided. If you and your friend have trust, equality, compassion, honesty, and independence, you already have the foundation of a strong and healthy friendship. Even though it can be hard to recognize when a friendship is weak in some areas, it is always possible to improve yourself and your relationship with a friend.

Don't let "I don't agree with your view on that" escalate to "You're an idiot. You're not going to get anywhere by disrespecting the other person; you'll just make a new enemy. Practice patience and assume good faith. Communication can be difficult sometimes, and people may misspeak or struggle to find words that fit. Give them time, and when you aren't quite sure what they mean, assume that they are doing their best to be kind and understanding.

Don't stereotype other people. Don't come to a conversation with assumptions about someone else's opinions or background based on their race, gender, religion, nationality, or any other factor. Everyone is an individual with special life experiences and wisdom. Don't make the disrespectful mistake of thinking you know someone before you've taken the time to learn about him or her as a unique person.

Skip the gossip. It's a common form of disrespect that people usually get away with, but gossiping is a bad habit. It puts you in the practice of seeing people as characters who are up for discussion instead of individuals with feelings that can be deeply hurt.

Even the strangest, most annoying or obnoxious people should not be regularly discussed as though they exist to provide entertainment for others. Politely object to gossiping if someone else starts it. Try saying something like "I'm not interested in gossip" or "I don't want to say anything about him that I wouldn't be willing to say to his face. Apologize if you hurt someone. No matter how hard you may try, you'll probably tread on someone's toes at some time or another. Your hurtful mistake is less important than how you react to it.

If you realize you did something unkind or upsetting, talk to the person about it to apologize. Avoid saying "but" to justify your actions. If you wish to explain why you behaved the way you did, try "and" instead. For example, "I'm sorry I winced when you said you were autistic, and I was acting on a misconception of what autism is. I'm sorry I upset you, and I accept you for who you are. Be respectful to others even if they're not respectful to you.

As difficult as it might be, try to show patience and humility. The other person may learn something from you. If the person is downright rude or mean, try to defend yourself without sinking to his or her level. Method 3. Show deference to those with rightful authority. Some people deserve extra signs of respect because of the position they hold. The school principal, the boss, the church leader, the mayor, the queen of England—these are people who have risen to leadership positions because they have exhibited qualities society deems worthy of respect.

Show authority figures respect according to the proper custom, whether it means calling the principal "Sir" or bowing to the queen. Elders are also deserving of extra respect. Respect your parents, grandparents, and other elders in the community for the valuable wisdom they have to share. In some cases it is important to recognize when an authority figure is not deserving of extra respect and deference. If someone has broken your trust and you feel you can no longer respect them, that's a personal choice you have the right to make.

In some cases, by standing up to authority you are respecting yourself and other people affected by the authority figure's power. Don't abuse your own power.

If you are in a position of power, respect those who trust you by being courteous and kind to them. Never expect them to defer to you "just because. Respect yourself. You are an important person, and you deserve to be treated well.

Work on treating yourself the way you'd treat a friend. Every time you think a negative thought about yourself or do something self-destructive, ask if you'd talk to a friend that way. You are your own best friend. An "others first" approach is kind, but is only realistic to a certain extent. Put your basic needs food, sleep, mental health first.

Once your needs are met, you will then be able to help other people effectively. Practice empathy and compassion. To really understand how to respect other people, put yourself in their shoes and attempt to truly understand where they're coming from. You can be courteous to people without really caring much about them, but true respect stems from a sense of empathy, a deep sense of shared understanding. Try to recognize the bonds that tie us all together and the fact that we're all sharing the same earth.

Respecting each other is a way of getting along and making the world livable and more delightful for everyone. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article?

Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Kirsten Parker, MFA. Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. A great technique for giving respect is to empathize or relate to the other person. Listening and responding intelligently, seriously, and beneficially shows a great amount of respect. Everyone wants what they say to be heard and taken into consideration. Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0.

Being respectful tells people you not only care about others, but you care about yourself. The most important part of being respectful is respecting yourself; if you don't, people won't respect you. When talking to someone, look them in the eye in a steady, but friendly way, if possible. A great thing to keep in mind is that your words can affect other people around you, try to think about yourself being spoken of your words, being the one in front of you.

Respecting differences doesn't mean tolerating people who advocate harming others. For example, if your neighbor is a Nazi who believes that certain types of people should die, this is not a belief that deserves to be respected or tolerated.

Respecting and protecting other people's safety is more important than respecting a violent person's beliefs. Helpful 14 Not Helpful 1. Related wikiHows How to. How to. Expert Interview. More References 4. They might respect your work habits, your intelligence, or your ability to close a deal. Always be polite to everyone you meet during the day, from your family members to your co-workers, to the checkout person at the grocery store.

Seek out actions you can take to offer politeness. Open the door at the coffee shop for the person behind you, or let the person with one item go ahead of you in the grocery store. Say please and thank you whenever possible. Eliminate disrespectful behaviors such as rolling your eyes, interrupting or talking negatively about someone.

Instead, foster an environment of respectful listening. Listening is an active process, not a passive one. Think before you speak. Instead of telling your tale, ask questions that encourage the speaker to tell you more.

Most people will be flattered that you care. Look for opportunities to help that you might have previously overlooked. Does a co-worker need help with a big project? Can you grab a cup of coffee for someone? Strive to be helpful several times a day. Your actions are based on your choices, and barring some unforeseen circumstance, there is no reason for excuses. Own your actions.