Yesterday I wrote “Stop complaining and criticizing.”
Today I am aware of the area I sometimes complain about……self respect and respect for others, our possessions, jobs, money and our lives.
So I am committing to writing about how I see we can each begin to turn the tide on good manners.
Yes, manners and etiquette are an obvious way of demonstrating respect.
How we dress demonstrates the respect (or lack of respect) for ourselves and others.
How we speak to one another shows our level of respect of those we encounter.
How we interact and behave demonstrate our consciousness in way of relating.
When respectful, we consider how others will receive our communication in body posture, clothing, verbal languaging, eye contact, good manners.
When we are respectful, we remember to consider others as much as we consider ourselves.
When we want to gain respect with others, we attend to what they consider to be respectful.
When we value our relationships, we choose to do and say those things which make a positive impact.
- Listen fully before we talk.
- Never interrupt.
- Excuse mistakes with an apology.
- Always say please and thank you.
- Greet everyone sincerely.
- Use the phone wisely, when no one can hear or interrupt.
- Excuse yourself when in conversation, before addressing another or answering the phone.
- Speak with in a tone that gains the respect of the other.
- See everyone’s needs as important as your own.
- When someone is not respectful to you, make sure you are respectful to them.
- Recognize the world needs your high standards of respectful communication.
- Use no profanity.
- Do not talk about others with out their presence or permission.
- Eat with respect for yourself, your food and those around you.
- Keep your appearance at a high standard to inspire others to do the same.
- Vent your emotions in private.
- When you want to express an opinion, ask permission of others to hear you without harm.
- Recognize everyone has a different outlook, desired outcome and perceptions of their world.
- Accept others needs as a call for help, rather than to be judged and criticized.
- Receive all criticism and complaints from others as a call for help and a desire to find a better way.
- Attend to the person with whom you are speaking/listening fully, with no distractions or interruptions.
- Turn off the TV when you want to have communication with your children or spouse.
- Turn off your cell phone when you are talking with someone or at dinner.
- Find a private place to make your calls, so that you are not interrupting or distracting others.
- Consider having limited hours for cell phone, TV, computer and video game use in your house.
This is Good Manners.
We each are teaching by our example.
Be the Best You Know how to be.
Loving you,
Betty Lue