“Show respect for your elders” is something that I heard a lot growing up. It evokes a sense of deference, of “yes, sirs” and “no, ma’ams,” but what it really means is to admire or to hold in high esteem. It is treating someone kindly because you honor them as a person. It does not mean that you always agree with the other person… there is room for disagreement, but the discourse is measured, mannerly and mature. Respect is a common trait of human dignity that translates across all cultures.

How respectful are you?

This week’s Challenge: This week, I will intentionally seek to hold others in a positive regard (even if we disagree).

Avoiding being Submissive (overuse): Being respectful requires a sense of esteem for both yourself and the other person. If you overuse being respectful, you are holding the other person in higher esteem than yourself. This becomes problematic when you move from being polite to deferring to the other person’s will and become submissive. To avoid this overuse, claim your power and don’t be afraid to be assertive (just do it kindly)!

“Show respect even to people who don’t deserve it;
not as a reflection of their character, but as a reflection of yours.”
– Dave Willis

Commendable Trait: Respectful
Underused: Disrespectful
Overused: Submissive
Strength: Empathy
Quadrant: Humanity

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