| Have you ever stopped for a moment to truly | | | | didn't, simply put, live up to your expectations. |
| define what it means to respect someone? As I | | | | Also, people can act negatively possibly due to |
| recall my own life-altering experiences, | | | | matters of their own such as dealings with |
| heart-breaking mistakes, and valuable lessons, I | | | | insecurities, health factors, chemical imbalance, |
| know I've learned a lot about respect. Hopefully | | | | fear, greed, anger and so on; these are challenges |
| you'll agree with what I'm about to say: When | | | | they could be battling to reach their better Self; |
| you truly respect someone, you don't lie to them, | | | | it's not always about you -- so don't take it |
| cheat on them, demean them, steal from them, | | | | personally. |
| speak badly about them, try to control them, | | | | Nevertheless you still have to decide if that's a |
| invade their privacy, ignore what's important to | | | | healthy situation to allow yourself to be a part of; |
| them, or want anything less for them than their | | | | this is where you have to use your better |
| most glorious dreams. | | | | judgement (your innate intelligence otherwise |
| At the heart of every successful relationship -- | | | | known as your intuition). You could use the old |
| business or personal -- lies respect. The truth also | | | | excuse that the other person "didn't mean to" |
| lies at the opposite end, that the heart of every | | | | disrespect you. Even if that was truly the case, |
| doomed relationship lies disrespect. If you're in a | | | | do you think it would be a wise decision to "stick |
| relationship in which you either don't respect the | | | | around" and be consumed in a negative situation? |
| other person or aren't respected by the other | | | | How will "sticking around" serve your better |
| person, I assure you this is a relationship you | | | | purpose? You are ultimately the decision-maker |
| have to learn from and leave, it's that simple. And | | | | whether you want to "stick around" to be either |
| the sooner the better, too, since I'm a big believer | | | | intentionally or unintentionally disrespected. |
| that the longer you postpone the inevitable, the | | | | Another person's behavior to disrespect you is |
| more time in this life you waste. | | | | truly your own dilemma if you choose to remain |
| The more you think about it the more you'll | | | | and accept. If you know your self worth, you |
| realize that without respect, all those other | | | | wouldn't leave any room for disrespect in your life |
| important ingredients of a good relationship such | | | | -- from whichever perspective, and at whatever |
| as love and trust don't mean much, or they can't | | | | caliber. |
| exist at all. The extraordinary thing about respect | | | | The fundamental ingredients of respect and trust |
| is that when it exists, in its deepest and most | | | | are the foundation for all successful relationships |
| honest form, it eliminates a lot of the destructive | | | | whether acquaintance, family, lover, friend, or |
| behavior that can tear apart a relationship and the | | | | business; therefore the approach to respect |
| people in it. | | | | applies to all relationships. Difficult as it is, there's |
| On a more personal note, if you happen to be in | | | | one thing you can do to earn respect from a |
| an intimate relationship in which you're being | | | | person who's in the habit of disrespecting you. |
| chronically disrespected, please don't fall into the | | | | You have to distance yourself from them, not |
| trap of believing that if you hang around long | | | | just emotionally or mentally, but physically. Don't |
| enough, putting up with any and all disrespect | | | | threaten to leave unless you mean it, and when |
| from your partner, it will somehow prove to your | | | | you mean it, do it. If you can't do it for yourself |
| partner how much you care; and then someday, | | | | and your precious spirit that deserves respect, do |
| the depth of your love finally realized, you'll earn | | | | it for the other person, and the lesson they need |
| the respect you've been longing for. Sadly, that's | | | | to learn that for every act of disrespect, there |
| not usually the outcome, for a simple, logical | | | | really is a price to pay. |
| reason: You never earn respect by tolerating | | | | © 2007 Penny Phang Enterprises, Inc. All |
| disrespect. | | | | rights reserved. Reprinting or republishing of this |
| Other people's ideals, beliefs or way of living can | | | | article is permitted, provided the author's |
| be different from yours and what you know to | | | | information including copyright and live link is |
| be true for yourself. So please do not mistake | | | | retained to accompany the article. |
| someone as "disrespectful" just because they | | | | |