Respect is the key to any healthy relationship.
To communicate openly and honestly you and your partner need to have respect for one another.
It takes mutual respect to come to agreements and to reach a compromise.
So, if you suspect that your partner doesn’t respect you, then your relationship is probably in trouble already.
If you have doubts – you probably already know this.
If you are in a relationship where you feel you are not being shown respect, this is an indicator of serious future emotional or physical abuse. Lack of respect is the starting point of dehumanising behaviour.
This needs to be addressed immediately so that it’s not allowed to develop and become normalised within your relationship.
It may be that your partner doesn’t realise the effects their behaviour has on you.
It’s important to clarify if these are just momentary lapses in behaviour, or just how they really are. To do this, you’ll need to call it out. Highlight how it feels when they ignore you, speak over you or put you down. See how they respond.
Try really hard not to fool yourself here. Soulmates don’t make you feel bad about yourself.
So if you don’t get clear signs from your partner about how sorry they are and how they will change their behaviour, you need to be prepared to let them go.
There are five warning signs that may indicate if your partner doesn’t respect you.
1. Do they speak over you or interrupt you?
Disrespect can be shown through small actions such as your partner speaking over you, interrupting you, or making decisions without your input.
If you start to notice this kind of behaviour make sure to call it out and let your partner know that it’s bothering you.
2. Does your partner consult with you?
If your partner tends to make decisions – large or small – without consulting with you first.
Make it clear to him or her that you are not happy with this situation and give them an opportunity to change how they behave. Try to do this in a non-accusatory way stop encourage a conversation instead of expressing a judgement about the kind of person your he or she is.
3. Do you have to make excuses for them?
Do you find that you often need to explain some of your partner’s behaviour, to your friends or family?
When people who love and care for you don’t quite see the appeal of your chosen one then you need to take a closer look at him or her too. If the people who know you and care about you all best of all have no hidden agenda and just wish you well then alarm bells should be ringing loud and clear if they don’t rate your partner.
4. Do you compromise to keep the peace?
The healthiest relationships have good balance and compromise. At any point in time, it’s probably not 50:50, but generally, it evens out. This means that both people respect each others standpoint, and make compromises when necessary. Both partners need to be heard and supported in a relationship.
5. Is it all your fault?
If you feel you are to blame all of the time and your partner is quick to point out to you that you’re at fault, then your partner is not treating you with the respect you deserve. Are you often made to feel that you are wrong, and blamed for how ‘bad’ you make the other person feel? This is called ‘gaslighting’ and is a form of emotional abuse.
Respect is crucial for a healthy relationship
So have these 5 quick questions promoted you to reappraise your relationship? Do you feel respected in your relationship?
If you take the time and really listen to your intuition, then you will hear the truth.
It’s hard to walk away from a relationship you care about. But understand that respect is crucial in a relationship. If it is not there then nothing good can build on those hollow foundations.
If you are not sure what to do about your relationship but feel something is out of kilter, then reach out and make contact with me. Relationships often follow a pattern. Understanding your relationship dynamic is the first step in transforming your essential ties with people. There is a link on this page to an obligation free discovery call.
