Respect

Being conscious of others
In modern society, no man is an island. We have definite chances of coming across people from different cultures. Conflicts may easily arise when there are diverse worldviews and opinions. Respect becomes the bridge to connect with and learn from each other among diversity, to step out from homogeneity, and finally embrace heterogeneity. We can all be ourselves regardless of differences in between.

Empowering everyone in the community to communicate unafraid of being judged, embarrassed, or oppressed is especially important to allow different beliefs and values. It means that we accept somebody for who they are, even when they are different from us. Mutual respect fosters a better understanding of others’ needs and interests.

Humans are social animals. We live together, we cooperate, we share. Respect is the key to the sense of belonging and security, being free from judgement, humiliation or discrimination, the protection of self-esteem, and being accepted and treasured. Developing respect allows us to have the ability to respond to others in a descriptive, non-evaluative, non-judgmental way.

Respectus - “look back at, regard, consider”
Respect is an essential component of both interpersonal relationships and personal identity in today’s globalized, intercultural context. However, it is also individually defined for each person through personal experience and influenced by our personality, emotions, preferences, and cultural context. It involves demonstrating how others are valued by actively listening to people and showing interest in people even though they are different from us. Respect is built as we try to understand differences and share experiences.

Respect should also start with oneself and then extend to one’s social environment. It’s also important to have respect for yourself as this is a form of love and acceptance for oneself. Cultivating the act of looking back allows us to take a moment to consider and let others feel being heard. To embrace everyone’s desire to be accepted, we have to put people at ease and also recognize who they are.

Respect – the word seems so common, yet abstract. It is considered one of the most fundamental values of society and there are many different types of respect. As it comes in many forms, discover more from the below flip cards on respect for self, other people, family, Nature, social norms, and value.

Living across cultures in diverse spaces
Respect doesn’t have to come naturally – it is something you learn. As we belong to different groups and bring in differences, we have the unique opportunity to learn from each other. Being respectful is a commitment to an ongoing engagement with learning about others and ourselves. We have come up with the following 10 ways for you to further foster your level of respect in order to embrace differences as an open individual and live in an interconnected world.