Weekly Wellbeing 

Reflections on Respect 

We aim to hold “respect for self and others, for the environment, we respect differences in others, we work and play cooperatively.” – Croydon Hills Primary School 

As we are coming out of a very long lockdown, it would make sense that we might feel a bit out of sorts engaging with people again.  We may have forgotten some basic rules for socialising.  Last term I began working through reflections of different school values, and I thought a reflection on respect would help us remember what is important when it comes to engaging with others. 

Respect is one of those words we use all the time, that has so many layers of meaning.  If you look up the definition of respect, it will be something along the lines of ‘to regard, admire, consider, appreciate, or be polite to’.  Going deeper, I would argue it means ‘to see as important’.  More than that I would argue it means ‘treat with dignity’.  To seek deeper understanding of the other, acknowledging they are worth understanding. 

In this world we find a lot of judgment and we often feel disrespected, unseen, or unheard. If we really look at each concept, misunderstanding is NOT the total opposite of understanding.  The total opposite of understanding would be ignorant or blind judging (seeking to make judgment before any attempt at understanding).  

With misunderstanding, we are still trying to understand the other person, we just don’t quite get it, but with blind judging we are not even trying to understand.  So, we can misunderstand someone, and still show them respect, but blind judgment is never showing respect. 

Almost any interaction between two people is motivated by ether seeking understanding or seeking judgement.  That motivation, ether understanding or judgement, is guiding the words, actions, tone, and result.  When we approach someone from a place of understanding/ seeking to understand we are taking the route that will foster respect, relationship, compassion, truth, and love.  And when we approach someone from a place of blind judgment, we are fostering fear, supremacy, loneliness, negligence, arrogance, and disrespect. 

From here I would argue the best way of showing respect, is seeking understanding, or knowing.  When we seek to understand and truly know someone different from ourselves, we are letting our minds open to the other person’s truth, we are preparing ourselves for empathy and compassion to naturally take over, and most importantly, we are telling ourselves, and the other person, they are worth paying positive attention to.  Here, we can see the other person’s value and appreciate their unique contribution to our community.

Respect is a concept that one could and should spend hours reflecting on. It is a concept truly worth its weight in gold. Here are some videos that can help guide more reflection on the concept of respect and seeking understanding. 

R.E.S.P.E.C.T What is Respect? 

A short film or respect: (Snack Attack)

Being Respectful Character Development 

Cheyenne Mason, on behalf of the Wellbeing Team