From the time we are old enough to walk, until we leave this Earth we are constantly given tips on how to become a better version of ourselves and become a functioning member of society. A variety of good-intentioned elders pass down a plethora of suggestions in regard to carrying out said task. Although this direction is vital and informative it is often cloaked in ambiguity. In order to effectively live out pearls of wisdom passed down to us we must first have a fundamental understanding of what they mean. One must not only explore the perception of others but also reflect on principles personally in order to effectively weave them into the fabric of our lives.
One example of the aforementioned ambiguity that comes to mind is the idea of respect. We are told over and over again to show respect, earn respect, treat people with respect etc. etc. without ever receiving a detailed explanation of exactly how to do so. How do we act out a word? How do we integrate it into our daily lives? It is vital that these questions do not go unanswered! However, they often do!
The foundation of respecting others is built upon the ability to respect oneself; According to John Herschel “Self-respect permeates every aspect of your life.” Self-Respect is a difficult trait to comprehend. Implementing it into one’s daily life includes achieving a balance between loving oneself and living in humility. I believe that respecting oneself does not mean elevating one’s own status above others’, but eliminating degradation of self. Respecting ones-self means trusting in your ability to make decisions and then not giving up on them when tested. As a Christian I also believe respecting oneself means being secure in the person God created me to be! Without this foundation, it is impossible to respect others due to the temptation of comparing oneself to them. Comparison often leads to degrading them in order to elevate oneself. I myself have been guilty of doing this. Only when I am able to trust in God’s creativity and love myself the way I’m made can I truly put my own insecurities aside and devote attention to others. Being able to hold firm in personal beliefs will allow you to listen to others’ without fear of losing who you are.
Returning to the balance of loving oneself and humility one can find the most integral part of respecting others. Merriam Webster describes humility, as “the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people.” Encompassed in this definition is the willingness to give of yourself to them. Where our generation falls short of this definition is our unwillingness to give of our time. Even when we spend time with others we are often absorbed in ourselves. Truly respecting others means viewing them and their ideas as important enough to devote our full attention to them. In order to do so we must remove our focus from self and transfer it to them.
