10 Ways to Show Respect in Relationships
R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Other than teaching me how to spell respect as a kid, Aretha taught us something else: respect is a basic part of a relationship. You can give affection, money, and anything else, but the most basic need from your partner when you get home is a little respect. One of the most important things to have in a relationship, besides love, is mutual respect for one another. You can’t claim to love someone without showing them any respect. It also has to be a two-way street; you also shouldn’t accept love from anyone that isn’t respectful to you. This could mean respect for personal boundaries, your family or even your work. We can all show respect in our relationships with small gestures that can make a big difference. Developing this aspect of your relationship is vital to creating a stable foundation to grow your relationship.
Here are 10 ways to show respect in your relationships:
1. Listen Attentively
There’s nothing worse than feeling like you’re talking to a brick wall. Or feeling like someone is just nodding their head and agreeing with everything you say just to end the conversation. Actually giving your undivided attention to your partner is so necessary, so they know they are being heard and you’re interested in what they have to say.
2. Be Responsive
Being responsive is a way of letting someone know that you care about them, and you’re interested in them. It pretty much goes hand in hand with listening attentively. You take a step back to listen and then respond in a way that’s helpful to your partner. Providing value when you respond is important.
3. Avoid Sharp or Biting Humor
Even though relationships can be serious at times, they should also be fun! But, we shouldn’t have fun at our partner’s expense. Remember to keep the jokes light and respectful. You don’t want to push the envelope and end up in a week-long fight. Having a laugh isn’t more important than respecting your partner.
4. Keep Your Partner’s Confidentiality
We often confide in our partners when we don’t really want to talk to our friends and family. This can be an intimate bonding moment when you both open up about personal issues. Keeping these things confidential is a way to respect your partner’s privacy. I know there are times when we’ll talk to friends or family about what we’ve discussed with our partners, especially if it’s something that may be troubling. However, keeping these outside discussions to a minimum would be in the best interest of your relationship.
5. Banish All Forms of Contempt
Don’t ever make your partner feel as if they’re beneath you or in some ways worthless. This can be damaging to their mental health, and hard to take back once the damage is done. Even if you’re both in the worst disagreement you’ve ever had, you should always remain respectful. Disagreeing with each other isn't a green light to be disrespectful.
6. Be Compassionate
Showing compassion when your partner is having a hard time can make all the difference in how they get through their tough times. Showing compassion lets your partner feel your concern for them. It can also determine if your partner feels like they can come to you with any concerns they may have. If they can’t experience compassion with you, they may seek advice and compassion elsewhere.
7. Accept Differing Opinions
Do not belittle each other because of a difference of opinion. You’re not going to agree on everything all of the time. You also can’t force your opinions onto someone else. Sometimes agreeing to disagree will be the solution.
8. Support Your Partner’s Choices
Supporting your partner’s choices is so important because it gives them that extra strength and confidence in the decision that they’ve made. You may not completely agree with every single choice, but having their back no matter what they choose can help strengthen your bond.
9. Acknowledge Their Contributions
Every so often, it’s great to acknowledge what your partner has contributed to the relationship. It could be something as simple as thanking them for taking on more responsibilities at home when you were having a hard time. It could even mean acknowledging how understanding and compassionate your partner has been lately. Letting them know that their effort isn’t going unnoticed is a great way of showing your partner respect.
10. Apologize Promptly
I know it’s hard to admit when you’re wrong, but when you do, an apology should definitely be next on your to-do list. Sometimes we do things and don’t realize how much it can hurt or offend our partners. What I think is a joke, could ruin my partner’s entire day. You have to understand that your feelings are the only ones that matter. If your partner expresses that you’ve made them feel uneasy, then an apology is needed.
Feeling respected in our relationships is equally as important as feeling loved. Sometimes we expect love and romance all the time, which isn’t realistic. Sometimes we aren’t always in a lovey-dovey mood. But being respected is something that can be present and shown all the time in our relationships. If my partner is having a bad day, not in the mood to be affectionate, or asking for space, but can still show me respect-that’s priceless.