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respect

A friend of mine recently told me, “You know, Kymberlee, you will find a man who treats you with the respect you deserve when YOU know you deserve it.”

I know it’s true. My spiritual teacher, Matt Kahn, once said in satsang that our bodies and the hearts that inhabit them are works of art. I get to choose who comes near this precious work of art and it’s time for me to bring out the security guards in the museum of my life. I’m putting this here as a reminder to myself and anyone who reads this:

We are all worthy of respect.

So that I can have a better sense of what respect actually looks and feels like, I am going to define it. Two of Webster’s definitions of respect are:

“Esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability.”
and
“The condition of being esteemed and honored.”

So, I deserved to be honored and treated with esteem. What does that look like specifically? Here are a few things that define respectful behaviors to me:

  • Being able to say no or state my own needs without anger and retribution.
  • Having my needs, feelings and boundaries heard and honored rather than argued with.
  • Open, honest and kind communication.
  • Courtesy and manners. (Seems like a no-brainer but I have allowed so much disrespect at times, it stuns me so it’s worth mentioning.)
  • Making amends when appropriate.
  • Reciprocity. Gone are the days of over-giving and over-doing for the sake of love, approval or belonging.
  • I am indeed worthy of respect. I know it starts with me.

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