Respect Each Other, Grow Together: Relationship Tips

Do you ever feel like your relationship has hit a rut? Maybe those little arguments seem to happen more often, or communication just feels off. The secret to rekindling the spark and building a truly strong bond might be simpler than you think – mutual respect!

 

Respect is the foundation of any healthy relationship, and it goes beyond just being polite. This article will dive into the power of respect in your love life, from practical communication tips to fostering appreciation for each other's individuality. Get ready to learn, grow, and strengthen your relationship by building a foundation of respect!

People think about the word "respect" in many ways. Sometimes, it means looking up to someone who inspires us. Other times, it's about listening to someone in charge, like a parent, teacher, or police officer, because they know more or have more power. Respect can also mean recognizing that everyone has the right to make choices and feel safe daily.

Here, we're talking about respect when it comes to dating. In a good relationship, both partners are equal - no one is the boss of the other. Everyone can live their life, including choosing what they share with their partner. Respect means even if we don't always agree with our partner, we trust them and believe in their choices. This trust grows as the relationship strengthens and you get to know each other better.

 

1-How do you show respect in your relationship?

 

In a relationship, respect means treating each other well every day. Even if you don't agree or have an argument (which is normal sometimes), it's essential to argue in a way that respects each other's opinions and feelings. Respect doesn't mean trying to control someone or make them do what you want. Instead, it's about letting each other be themselves and loving them for who they are.

In a good relationship, respect looks like:

     - Talking openly and honestly

     - Listening to each other

     - Caring about each other's feelings and needs

     - Finding compromises

     - Speaking kindly to and about each other

     - Giving each other space

     - Supporting each other's interests, hobbies, and careers

     - Encouraging each other

     - Respecting each other's boundaries, no matter what.

 

Showing respect means doing things like paying attention when your partner talks about their feelings, respecting their personal limits, cheering on their hobbies, and saying nice things about them to other people. When you respect someone, you show that you think highly of them by the way you act, behave, and speak.
 

2- Respect thyself first, so that the other respects you

 

Respecting your partner is important, but it's just as important to respect yourself, whether you're single or in a relationship. Having self-respect helps you feel confident and build healthy relationships with others.

So, what does self-respect mean? It means liking yourself as you are. It doesn't mean you think you're perfect; nobody is perfect, but everyone deserves respect. You're important and valuable simply because you exist. Self-respect is about sticking to your own standards and not worrying too much about what others think. It's about looking after your body and mind, maybe by eating well, exercising in ways you enjoy, reading, going to therapy, following your faith, or anything else that feels right for you.

 

Now that you know what respect is and how you can respect, here are a few tips on how to be respected.

 

3-How to be respected?

 

The first step to building respect is to figure out what it means to both of you. Discussing what respect looks like early in your relationship is a good idea. You might realize you see things differently. For instance, you might think your partner leaving dirty dishes out is disrespectful, like they expect you to clean up, but maybe they just forgot or planned to do it later. It's important to clarify what respect means to each of you so you understand and agree.

There are some common ideas of respect, though, like being polite, talking to your partner before making a big decision that affects both of you and being able to disagree without being mean or talking down to each other.

 

Think about these things:

     - If you both see respect differently, how will you deal with that?

     - What are your limits? What about your partner?

    - Do you feel okay talking to your partner about how you feel?

    - Do you trust your partner? Talk about what trust means every day.

    - What actions show respect or disrespect? Talk about specific situations.

    - What will you do if one of you is disrespectful?

    - Are there any actions that you absolutely cannot accept?


 

Everyone has their thoughts, interests, and beliefs. Trying to change, control, or ignore these things is disrespectful.

Respect is key to a loving and fair relationship, and that starts with respecting yourself. Self-respect helps you know your limits, what you expect from your partner, and what you're okay with giving up or changing.

And if you struggle with respect in your relationships or feel disrespected, remember that sometimes it’s not your fault nor your partner. In order to feel good in a relationship, take care of yourself first and get to know you as well as your partner, like Sara Lawrence Lighfoot says: respect is not the passive deference offered by a superior but an active force that creates symmetry even in unequal relationships”.

Feel free to learn about respect in this article and more throughout our selected book of the month about relationships:  Respect: 

 

Even in very loving relationships, sometimes trust can be broken. This could happen if one partner buys a car without asking the other, keeps ignoring what their partner wants or doesn't want, lies about what they've done, or kisses someone else at a work event. Depending on the situation, any of these things could make the other person trust them less.

 

You can fix trust if the disrespectful behavior isn't abusive (like physically, mentally, sexually, or verbally harmful). But, both people in the relationship must be ready to try hard to fix it. Often, getting help from a therapist or counselor can be helpful. They can give you a fresh point of view, help you learn ways to deal with problems, teach you how to build trust again and improve how you talk to each other.