10 WAYS TO GAIN RESPECT IN A RELATIONSHIP

Respect is one of the most important elements your relationship should have. It’s something that should be established even when you just start off as friends. You have to make sure that you and your partner are a team and you are both honest, considerate, compassionate and of course be sensitive to each others’ actions. This will give your relationship a stronger bond and will also make it long-lasting.

Respect means that you recognize that your partner is a whole person, and not just a way to get something that you want. It means that you know your partner has different experiences and opinions from you and that’s ok. It’s easy to say that you have respect for someone, but acting with respect can be a bit trickier.

It’s really important that the both of you respect each other, if not then you might want to assess or ask yourself what’s wrong

I want to talk about how you can show respect in your relationship. After all, just because you don’t physically harm your partner or call them names, does NOT mean that you are treating your partner with respect.

1. Be mindful of how you communicate.

Communication is one of the most important parts of a relationship and one of the hardest. That’s because being open and honest with your partner means being open and honest with yourself.

Don’t expect your partner to be a mind reader. If you’re upset, it’s important to talk openly about what’s bothering you. Don’t be accusatory. Use “I” statements, like “I feel really ignored and unimportant when you cancel our plans at the last minute,” or “I feel annoyed when you keep asking me to hang out when you know I need to study. I really appreciate it when others respect my time.” Your emotions are always valid don’t feel bad for feeling what you feel.

Everyone disagrees sometimes and that’s totally ok. When you do, don’t disappear or shut down communication. At a minimum, tell your partner that you’re upset and need some time to cool down and process your thoughts before you talk. This way they don’t feel like you’re disappearing on them, or ignoring their feelings. Validate your partner’s feelings by saying things like, “I understand why you feel that way,” or “I hear what you’re saying.”

Communication goes beyond words though. You can tell your partner that you care by wearing the cologne they like, sharing a playlist with them, or bringing them flowers.

2. Respect yourself. 

Respect must come from yourself first. You will learn how to believe and not doubt someone if you apply it to your own life.

If he/she sees that you don’t care about yourself, he/she will eventually not respect you. How can you expect someone to give something that you don’t even give to yourself?

3. Be more independent. 

Being independent is one of the really effective ways to make your girlfriend/boyfriend respect you. Standing firm on your decisions in life and not merely relying on the opinion of others is the way to do it. It shows signs of maturity which is good if you are in a relationship. It can also show that how committed and serious you are in your relationship.

Him/her is expected to be strong even when times get hard, so complaining and whining like a kid about how life is tough is a big turn off to your partner. Don’t get me wrong, it’s okay to vent out your frustrations to him/her but don’t overdo it. It’s expected that no matter how hard the situation is, him/her can still keep their composure and find possible solutions to the problem. The stronger you are as a man/woman and a boyfriend/girlfriend to your partner, the more admiration and respect you’ll receive from your partner.

4. Keep your word.
When you do not keep your promises, he/she loses trust from you let alone respect you. If you said that you would do something or promised to take him/her out, fulfill it. When you always do what you promised it shows your integrity and your worthiness to be respected, your boyfriend/girlfriend will surely respect you for showing that kind of values.

5. Respect her/him even when he's/she’s not around.

Respect should not end when you are with the person, it should also be applied even when he/she’s not around. Talking badly about your girlfriend/boyfriend such as belittling comments without him/her knowing it shows that you do not respect him/her. Not only will it show how bad you are as his/her partner, but it will also show how bad you are as a person in front of other people.

Also, hitting on other gentlemen/ladies when your girlfriend/boyfriend is not with you is a big NO NO. Flirting is a sign that you don’t respect him/her and your relationship. If he/she finds out that you did that, he/she will not trust you anymore and eventually lose all of his/her respect for you.

6. Tell the truth always.

A huge part of a relationship is trust, but how can you trust someone if they’re constantly canceling plans or, even worse, lying?

Honesty is also one of the most important aspects of any kind of relationship. Even when the truth hurts, it is better to tell it anyways rather than your boyfriend/girlfriend hearing it from other people. How can he/she respect someone who doesn’t tell the truth? Owning up to your mistakes is so much better than denying it.

7. Stand up for yourself and for your relationship also.

There will always be people who would say bad things about you and your relationship. We can’t please everyone but when they are crossing the line, know how to defend it. You just can’t turn a blind eye on people who can just freely insult and degrade your relationship. Standing up for yourself and defending the both of you will let him/her clearly see how much you care and treasure your relationship no matter who brings it down.

8. Respect her if you want to be respected.

The golden rule and this does not only apply to your girlfriend/boyfriend but to other people also. How can he/she respect you, if in the first place you do not even treat him/her well? Anything that we demand or ask our partner, we should also give it to them. It’s a give and take relationship, it shouldn’t end up like you’re the only one who’s benefiting from it. Remember that respect begets respect.

Having a relationship in today’s world needs a man/woman to really know how to deepen the respect, love and attraction that a man/woman feels for him/her over time. If he/she can’t do that, the relationship will eventually fall (or very quickly) apart. That is why having your boyfriend/girlfriend respect you just as much as you respect him/her can help not only understanding each other’s perspective but also making your relationship last longer.

9. Encourage time apart.

When you’re in a new relationship, you may be so excited that you want to spend all your time with your partner. That’s totally normal. But it can be easy to ignore the other important relationships in your life, like with your family and friends. No single person no matter how awesome they are can take care of all your social and emotional needs. And everyone needs a break from their significant other every once in a while. Spending time alone or with other people means that both of you can continue to grow as individuals. You can both bring new ideas and activities to your relationship, keeping it exciting and engaging. It also gives you both a chance to talk about your relationship with your friends and family. Who doesn’t want to brag a bit about their new love?

10. Appreciate your differences.

Don’t criticize your partner for their ideas or interests. You can disagree with someone and still respect their opinion. Part of what makes relationships awesome is the differences. Your partner can help you see the world from a new perspective, even if you don’t ultimately change your mind. You can show your partner you appreciate them by going to do or watch what they love together, even if you would never set foot in there otherwise.

Accept your partner’s boundaries, even when they’re different from yours. If your partner doesn’t want to kiss in public, have sex, lie to their parents, don’t pressure them. This is coercive and potentially abusive.