Page 143 - Reflections_over_Akamas
P. 143

To respect...

























                                                             ... is to wholeheartedly revere the moment and its protagonists. On the surface,

                                                             it appears as a considerate gesture here and a polite formality there. But what if
                                                             we turned respect into an ever-present attitude, honouring people, institutions

                                                             and experiences with our acceptance, attention and consideration? Not
                                                             because they meet our standards, but because respect is our common attitude
                                                             towards all people, regardless of their background, beliefs or behaviour. What

                                                             would happen if you decided one day to greet everyone and everything with
                                                             the utmost respect. How would you feel? Drained or empowered? How about
                                                             acknowledged and connected?



                                                             There are countless ways to offer respect, but only one element ensures
                                                             authenticity: intention. When you choose to honour someone, they tend to

                                                             reciprocate. They rise to the occasion. It’s been scientifically verified that if you
                                                             treat average students as star students, their performance will follow suit.


                                                             By choosing to approach life with a mindset of respect, we not only
                                                             cultivate deeper connections with others, we also empower ourselves
                                                             to live more fully. When we honour people and experiences with our
                                                             attention and consideration, we open ourselves to the beauty and richness
                                                             of life. Rather than seeing differences as barriers, we can recognise them
                                                             as opportunities to learn and grow.






















                                                                                                                                             139
   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148