I asked this question on Facebook last night “What is one value that people need to learn and apply in their lives?” Fortunately, I received a lot of thumbs-ups and hearts, unfortunately only a few people responded. I find this odd.
As a high school teacher, respect is an issue I face daily, so here are a few paragraphs I wrote in my upcoming book “Creating Teachable Moments.”
Respect starts with you. What does that mean? Do you self-respect by practicing self-compassion in order to build up that self-respect?
We all must have a healthy dose of self-respect to find our way in life. This is not egotism or narcissism. This is something you give yourself, which is fundamental to creating a mutually respectful relationship with others. Since respect builds upon itself, it is challenging to respect others when we don't respect ourselves. In return, it is difficult to respect ourselves when others don't respect us.
Respect for others and self-respect are connected. Recognizing your level of self-respect is a lifelong journey as you recognize the confidence to do what you say and follow your own set of core values. You communicate to the world that you are important when you respect yourself and that you have taken the time to recognize your skills. Unfortunately, the value of self-respect tends to be taken for granted, thus not developed by students and adults as part of increasing well-being and self-awareness.
Respecting oneself means loving yourself and treating yourself with care. It makes us less fearful of rejection or failure and more self-assured. As our self-assurance increases, this encourages us to take on new challenges and develop personally. Individual growth through self-awareness and self-confidence also makes us feel more at ease talking with others. In turn, those who care about us and respect our perspectives reciprocate our comfort level by opening their hearts and minds to us.
