The Meaning of Respect

In a post, I asked the question, “what does respect mean to you?” I had several people comment to provide their thoughts on the topic. Here are what they had to say:

I see respect as being open and listening - Gina Riley

Respect is Listening

Respect is being open to others and listening. We don't have to agree, but we can be kind and open to them. – Lori Knudsen

Respect is an act of support. Supporting your differences and values by not fighting them but accepting them as apart of you and what makes you unique. Respect is listening not to respond but to give you support through "giving you the floor" and letting you own your voice. Respect is free and is not a space to validate your worth by battling others and theirs. – Heather Suerdieck

I see you, I hear you and I acknowledge your presence just the way you are. – Shaema Talib

Respect means you love others for who they are as a person for their unique qualities. Even if their opinion is different from yours, you're still able to listen and you're still able to respect that opinion because all opinions are valid and all people are valid. - Erika Petrie

Respect is all about treating someone how we like being treated, it's giving importance. – Anna Sabino

Respect is Treating Others As You Would Want to be Treated

Respect is treating others as you would like to be treated. Don't look down on anyone. If someone has got your back, return the favor. Show appreciation when it is deserved. – Charlie Meli

Respect is a non-negotiable for me in any type of relationship. It is the foundation that cannot be compromised at any cost. – Viloshni Moodley

Respect means you treat others as you would like to be treated. – Zarine Swamy

Respecting each others differences and learning to celebrate the diversity rather than the commonalities is a lesson for all of us right now! – Elise Finn

Respect is Accepting Differences

Respect has a key role, one of the core values in my opinion. I give and expect it. We have differences and similarities. If we have respect we will understand each other better. We can find a common way or goal to workout problems. – Zsuzanna Krizsan

Respect is honoring another’s right to dignity. Honoring the value in them that they have a right to. It’s the very same value that you also require....to be seen with a right to be human and know you are worthy. To respect requires knowing that someone may disagree and that’s ok. – Paula Goodman

Respect is the ability to view someone as they are... accept them as they are and honor them as they are, for who they are and what they stand for – Falguni Katira

Respect is a combination of gratitude, humbleness, and kindness. We must appreciate the blessings of having diverse people around. It is an opportunity to learn & grow as a person. We must accept that there is always a wiser mind than you. Be humble & look for some good in others besides what may bother you. We must have a soft heart and show kindness by avoiding negativity through words or thoughts. – Ruheena Kibir

Respect means treating every person equally despite the differences. What I mean by equally is to treat others with love & compassion. You may not always see eye to eye but try to be accepting of what their point of view might be. – Marisol Lope

Respect is to value and recognize others regardless of their differences and views. – Laura Rivchum

To each his own as my Mom says. – Shannon Whittington

When I think of respect I think of making the effort to come from a place of love, compassion, and understanding. We all have very different views, perspectives, and customs, and yet we can learn so much from one another, by respecting our differences. – Sarah Reuter

Respect is an important skill we develop in the environment we were born, grown, and lived in. It's an asset to overcome every obstacle in life. – Cem Cakmak

Respect is Developed

Respect means you accept somebody for who they are, even when they're different from you or you don't agree with them. Respect in your relationships builds feelings of trust, safety, and wellbeing. Respect doesn't have to come naturally – it is something you learn. – Ilango D

Respect is a sense of worth or excellence of a person. There are things in life you need to hold in for yourself and for others. Sometimes it’s a way of treating, thinking also called esteem, is a positive feeling or action shown towards someone or something considered and held in high esteem or regard. It conveys a sense of admiration for good valuable qualities. – Edgar Snow

Respect means giving particular attention or deference to one judged worthy of esteem; a recognition and due regard for a thing or, especially, for another person, his qualities, achievements, office, position, or authority. To manifest RESPECT is to HONOR. – Don Williams

Respect has to be based on humility and security. To be respectful we have to fully accept and appreciate who we are and that we're no better or worse than anyone else! – Kevin Ward

"RESPECT is a human faculty that requires learning, culture, sensitivity, and knowledge and allows all of us to be understanding, tolerant and free to be who we are and to accept others as they are" – Annunziata Di Lecce

If you respect a person you should be willing to disagree honorably. – Ezekiel Ekata

Respect Disagrees Honorably

Respect to me is to be honest even when I disagree with people – Jonathan Macdonald

Respect is coming with empathy and understanding that the other person, like you, has his/or her story and perceptions. Accepting that to frame opinions and views is giving respect. – Joy Abdullah

Summary

Respect consists of actions toward others, starting with listening and hearing them, and if we disagree to do so in an honorable way. It requires acceptance of differences leading to treating people as we would want to be treated. As parents, leaders, and a community, we must work to teach others the meaning of respect and show them how to live it.