Rather than respect just being something earned, it also can be something given. When I am willing to re-look and release my judgments or conclusions, I am giving respect. The value in being able to freely give respect lies in establishing trust and facilitating a developmental process either for oneself or for others. If I am constantly judging you or making you jump through respect hoops, I risk alienating you and cutting off any chance for positive movement in our relationship. It s the times when I was given respect, especially when I didn t deserve it, that I was influenced the most.
Autonomy is the state of existing or functioning independently from another or others.
When we are autonomous, we have the ability to make our own way and are not dependent on others for assistance, guidance or support. Autonomy doesn t mean we should separate or isolate ourselves from others, but that we are capable of functioning without them if we need to. An important fact is to know that just because people have successfully made their own way in life doesn t automatically make them autonomous. Autonomy requires much more than physical independence. Until we become true to ourselves emotionally, mentally and spiritually, we remain trapped at some level within the confines of dependence.