A good partner will always show you respect, valuing your thoughts, feelings, and boundaries. Mutual respect is essential for a healthy relationship. It’s important to remember that the right person will appreciate you for who you are and support your growth. Here are some Signs that a Man Respects You… or that He Doesn’t…
Here are some clear signs that a man respects you:
Values Your Opinions: He seeks your input on decisions and genuinely considers what you have to say. He asks you about your opinion. He cares about your thoughts and feelings.
Communicates Openly: He is honest with you, sharing his thoughts and feelings and encouraging you to do the same. He takes ownership of the friendship/relationship. He includes you in conversations. He includes you in decisions.
Keeps Promises: He follows through on his commitments and respects your time. Even if he is running late, he will let you know, and usually tell you why and reschedule. If he reschedules he follows through with the reschedule because he knows how much the friendship or relationship means to both of you.
Respects Your Boundaries: He understands and honors your personal space, comfort levels, and limits. He respects what is important to you, and the fact that it is important to you (ex. your faith, family, friends, work, education, boundaries etc…)
Supports Your Goals: He encourages you to pursue your ambitions and celebrates your achievements. He encourages you in your goals and dreams.
Listens Actively: He pays attention when you speak and engages in meaningful conversations. He lets you finish what you are saying, and the point you are trying to make if you are trying to make a specific point.
Shows Kindness: He treats YOU and others with kindness and consideration, reflecting his values. He prioritizes the healthy positive kind way he treats you.
Handles Conflict Maturely: He approaches disagreements with a calm demeanor and seeks resolution rather than escalation. He takes ownership of his part in the disagreement/conflict/issue, and helps to work to resolve it. He is able to apologize and apologizes when appropriate. He is able to forgive and forgives.
Involves You in His Life: He shares his interests and includes you in his social circle, valuing your presence. He says positive things about you to those in his social circle, and is genuine and sincere about what he says in relation to you. If someone speaks negatively of you - he has your back.
Demonstrates Trust: He trusts you and doesn’t try to control your actions or friendships. He encourages you to have other friends besides him, and to have a social group/friend circle.
If you notice these behaviors, it’s a strong sign that he respects you and values your friendship/relationship!
On the Flip Side:
Here are some clear signs that a man may not respect you:
Dismissive Attitude: He brushes off your opinions or feelings as unimportant. He usually prioritizes other people’s feelings over yours. What makes you happy and lights you up, does not matter to him.
Lack of Communication: He avoids honest conversations or only shares when it’s convenient for him. If you have a disagreement, he very rarely listens to what you have to say, and tries to escalate the disagreement or conflict. He later blames you for the lack of communication, or if things have escalated.
Breaks Promises: He frequently cancels plans or doesn’t follow through on commitments that he makes in relation to you. Or he refuses to make any commitments in relation to you.
Ignores Boundaries: He disrespects your personal space and boundaries, pushing you to do things you’re uncomfortable with. He oversteps boundaries and is constantly testing you to see what your next reaction or action will be. He provokes issues and thinks it is funny when he oversteps boundaries.
Criticism and Judgment: He often belittles you or makes negative comments about you, and/or your choices and/or your life. He makes you feel bad or ashamed if you are not perfect or if you make a mistake.
Manipulation: He tries to control situations or your decisions, often using guilt or intimidation. He laughs when he does something that hurts your feelings or offends you. He finds it funny and delights in being an asshole/unpleasant towards you or doing things in relation to you that you find unpleasant.
Lack of Support: He shows little interest in your goals or dreams and may even discourage you from pursuing them. He purposely makes things difficult for you, and increases conflict or issues in your life. He tries to keep you from doing what you are passionate about. He gives you a hard time when you ask for something that you need, want, or desire.
Inconsistency: His words and actions don’t align; he may say he cares but doesn’t show it through his behavior.
Public Disrespect: He makes jokes at your expense or criticizes you in front of others. He speaks negatively about you to others, even when you have not done anything wrong. He blames you for any problems that are occurring, or if there was a disagreement he blames you for the disagreement. If someone else is disrespecting you he chimes in and disrespects you as well, or just goes with the flow, and does not stand up for you. He allows people in his social group to disrespect you (whether friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances etc).
Self-Centeredness: He prioritizes his own needs and desires over yours, showing little regard for your feelings, wants, needs, or desires. He cares little about you or your family etc, or what is important to you. He does only what is convenient for him and he does not care if anything he does inconveniences you. He may also only want you around when it is convenient for him, or when he needs something.
If you notice these signs, reassess the friendship/relationship and considering what’s best for you. The right person for you and men who are your true friend will care about you and how they treat you. They will respect you, value you, listen to your feelings, and cherish the friendship or relationship you have with them. They will actively and positively engage in the friendship/relationship.
