Every day, we engage in a delicate dance called respect that has an impact on our opportunities, relationships, and self-worth. But it frequently slips from our grasp, disappearing suddenly. This book, “Simple ways you can easily gain/lose your respect without knowing it,” takes us on a quest for self-awareness. Oftentimes, we become aware of the minute details, deeds, and behaviors that either increase or decrease respect. We equip you to navigate this complex environment by providing you with useful insights and real-world examples, assisting you in fostering and protecting the respect you deserve while avoiding the traps that could unintentionally damage it.

#1. Familiarity

Familiarity in simple terms means being extremely friendly or intimate. The extremity that comes with being familiar usually involves lengthy conversions between people, which sometimes results in people revealing things that are meant to be kept private. Being a social person is not the same as being familiar. There is this slim divide between these two: “being social” and “ being familiar”.

From experience, I have realized that people prefer having a social person around them to having someone familiar with them. This is why familiarity brings disrespect. The more people get to know you, the more they lose their respect for you. I believe this is also one reason why the rich have some level of respect in society. A rich man would not want to sit with anyone who comes his way. If it is not business, then there is no reason for the meeting. People misunderstand this to be pride, no it is not. It is just a way to keep your respect as a person.

On this note, the Holy book advises that we withdraw our foot from our neighbor’s houses lest they become weary of us and despise us. An indication that familiarity brings a lot of disrespect. So, if you want to keep your respect in your place of work, residence, business, or public, just mind what you say and when to say them. Or possible keep your words to yourself, no one is going to pay you for your contributions or comments that might sometimes end up resulting in a quarrel or a fight.

#2. Finance

The same way everyone likes money in the same way everyone likes being around people who have made money( especially legibly). This fact can not be disputed in any way. It is an everyday experience. The moment people realize you are beginning to show some glimpse of financial success around you, they won’t even know when they will all of a sudden start drawing near to you. It’s like a magnet. Family members, friends, colleagues at the office, neighbors, and sometimes people who once hated and avoided you will all want to identify with you. This does not mean you will not have enemies. People get persuaded, without being told, to give some respect to rich people, because of their money. Unfortunately, the church is not left out of this. The church silently has a way of giving respect and attention to the rich than the way they do to the poor.

Invariably, when a man is poor or broke to the awareness of everyone around him, immediately, he will start losing friends, family members, business associates, and in the worst cases, loved ones as well. This can be humiliating and very disrespectful. People sometimes go to the extent of even warning their children not to get close to a person, not because they are bad or evil, but because they are poor. It is indeed a very bad thing to be broke or poor. Pray not to experience this too long or never to experience it at all.

#3. Family Background

In the last paragraph under finance, we talked about praying not to experience lack for too long. This is because I understand that if someone is born in a poor home, his or her experience with hardship that comes from poverty will be inevitable. It is in this situation, such a person will need to pray not to stay long in financial struggles.

Family background has a way of influencing how people see us in society. The son of the president of a nation whose age is, let’s say, 4 years old, will most likely command so much respect in the public compared to a man in his twenties from a humble background.

Now, this situation is nobody’s fault. We can’t dictate which family we are to be born into in this world. It is a reality that some will definitely be born rich, while some will be born poor. But, thank God that, with time such societal placement can be changed by destiny. Anyone born poor can also be rich with time. But before this happens, people will have to show to the poor person, that attitude of disregard and humiliation that is associated with coming from a humble background.

#4. Power

This part is very interesting and intriguing. This is because the word “power” could mean different things to different people. Power could mean strength, voodoo, witchcraft, electricity, military might, position, or authority.

Here, we are defining power as authority that comes with one being in a position. This position can be political, religious, financial, or inherited.

People in power are known to be highly respected in the society. Some were born with it, while some worked for it. Whichever way it goes, power commands so much respect. If you are in power, there are privileges you enjoy that an ordinary person does not. If for any reason you lose the power bestowed on you at any time, you automatically will lose the respect you were enjoying while in power.

In offices, people in position gets the most attention from the company staff when they talk. This is not so when someone of no position talks. The power of being in a position differentiates the situation. So, when we are privileged to be in a position of authority, let us endeavor to do the needful so as not to lose our place, and as a result, lose our respect too.

#5. Talent/Skill

Talent and skill are very similar with a slight difference. Both of them are similar in the sense that they have to do with one’s ability. Talent is different from skill because it is a natural endowment given by God himself to an individual. In other words, the person was born with it. No one thought him or her about the craft. It is in-borne. Skill is taught and learned over some time. Here the person initially has no idea about the craft until he/she gets to be trained.

Any of this form of ability, whether talent or skill makes people distinctive in their field of endeavor when the time arises. This has a way of making people and even industry give respect and rewards to people of such.

In the university, students who were able to leave school with first-class honors, despite all odds, would usually be seen as being exceptionally talented in such discipline, and are being celebrated differently. This is because talents and skill are something of so much desire, and as such brings home accolades of respect if acquired and used properly. You can not be called an expert in the industrial world if you don’t have good skills or talent.

As we come to the book’s conclusion, “Simple Ways You Can Easily Lose Your Respect Without Knowing It,” we have a fresh perspective on the complex relationships that underlie respect. We have figured out how to traverse the minefield of behaviors that damage our self-esteem by being honest with ourselves and taking concrete measures. With this information, we may strengthen our bonds with one another, promote trust, and protect our own self-respect. Accepting this knowledge will help us restore the respect that is rightfully ours.

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