Respect

Authenticity: this is how you win respect. Being who you are, flaws and all, openly and honestly for all to see. That doesn't mean you stop working on developing your character, it just means you own your shit. Hiding the darker side will only hurt you in the long run. We all have one, so why not be honest about it and let the pieces fall where they may.

Treat people right. They may drive you crazy or to the breaking point, but who they are does not determine who you are. I can be super upset with someone and still be kind to them because I want to be a kind person. It doesn't mean I let them get away with walking on me. It just means I refuse to be hateful. No does not have to be screamed in order to be heard. It just has to be consistent.

Don't change your boundaries for ANYONE! I have, and every time, I've regretted it. Respect starts with respecting yourself first. If you know something is not going to work for you, don't do it. In my case it doesn't matter how long I have known the guy, how cute he is, or how much fun we have together. If he's not in it to win it, I am only wasting my time, hurting myself, and possibly hindering him from growth.

Live your own morals, and let others live theirs. If all truth is God's truth, eventually we'll get it right. I think the point of life is more about discovering passion and connections. Letting others be themselves allows for this to occur. We can share our viewpoints and come away more enriched, but determining who and what another should be will only lead to resentment in the end. People need to be allowed to be people.

That being said, learn the rules of the game and come up with a strategy before playing. Be in this thing called life to win, not simply to survive. No one has ever survived life. So win instead.

Give what you want to get back, even if the other person doesn't deserve it. If you wouldn't be happy with other people knowing about your actions, don't do those things in the first place. If you do engage in embarrassing activities, own it. People will respect you for it. Then do better next time, and celebrate small victories.

Respect can take a lifetime to build and be destroyed in an instant. Learning how to fail is just as important as success. Be respectable and you will be respected.