Respect — An expression of self

The Cultural Norm

In India, we teach our children to respect their parents and elders. It is considered righteous and a sign of good upbringing.

People often assume that respect means not talking back, touching the feet of elders, or never raising one’s voice before them.

These are expressions of respect. But what does respect really mean?

Respect is the Value

Respect does not originate outwardly. It arises from the value we recognise in others.

It is when you pause while the person you respect is speaking — not because interrupting is considered disrespectful, but because you genuinely wish to listen and understand their point of view.

It is when your body naturally bows — not merely to follow a ritual, but because you value their presence.

It is when your voice remains gentle even when you know they are mistaken — not because you fear them, but because you value the relationship more than the need to win an argument, and because one mistake does not define a person’s character.

Mutual Respect

But is respect meant to flow only one way? Should parents, at some point, not also respect their children?

Every generation inherits the wisdom of the past, but only the present generation experiences the present. That experience creates a new kind of wisdom — one that older generations can learn from, just as younger generations learn from the past.

After all, respect is not merely mutual; it is reciprocal.

Beyond Etiquette

Respect is not bound by etiquette.

Among close friends, we often argue, tease, or even insult one another. Not because we lack respect or wish to hurt each other, but because some relationships are secure enough to allow such freedom.

The ability to be carefree with someone is, in its own way, also an expression of respect. And that can never be one-sided.

Shared Existence

Then there is something even more fundamental — basic human respect.

We encounter strangers every day, and even other living beings that share this creation with us. We often extend respect to them instinctively or because society expects us to.

Most of us stop at a superficial understanding of this kind of respect.

But when we begin to understand creation and the role of every being within it, respect ceases to be a social obligation. By observing nature’s laws and the synchronicity within creation, we gradually develop a deeper respect for our shared existence.

Self-Expression

Respect is an inside-out phenomenon.

It cannot be sustained by etiquette alone. Nor can it be enforced through dominance or fear.

When we genuinely respect ourselves, we no longer need to seek validation. We can afford to listen, to disagree with grace, and to extend dignity even to strangers.

The respect we offer the world then becomes a natural expression of the respect we hold for ourselves.