Honor is not often talked about these days, but without it, the personal relationships you have would fall apart. Here’s a complete guide on how to honor the people in your life.
by Troop Atomic Mommy
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We don’t talk much about honor in our society. But it is still a critical part of the social and psychological landscape. People still expect it, even if they can’t quite put it into words.
Unfortunately, we’re not as good as we used to be at honoring the people around us. Sure, we might pay lip service to the concept, but we don’t always do it effectively in practice.
In this article, we want to give you the tools you need to change all that. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that you can honor other people in your life and make a difference in their lives.
Cheer Someone On
Offering your encouragement to someone who wants to do something big is an excellent way to honor them. By showing your support, you’re affirming their lives and what they want to achieve.
Cheering someone on can be as simple as sharing a positive word with them or supporting them with positive actions. Focus on giving the person in your life the impression that they really can succeed. Let them know that you believe in them.
Listen Carefully
Another way to honor people is to listen carefully to what they say. The temptation in many conversations is to just talk over the other person and say your piece. But really listening means reacting to what they say in real time and pretty much ignoring whatever it is that you want to say. The conversation should be about helping them achieve resolution rather than you making a point about yourself.
Forgive Them
Forgiving other people is essential in life. That’s because everyone will eventually make a mistake and require forgiveness themselves.
Forgiving people is challenging when they wrong you. You want them to atone for their crimes against or be punished for them. But forgiveness actually looks past that and sees the error in your own ways. When you forgive, you become like a parent to everyone, nurturing things until they flourish, even if they make mistakes along the way.
Accept Help
Honoring other people can also involve accepting their help. And while this might sound like a strange thing to say, it makes sense. Other people often have unique abilities and gifts that they can use to help you. If you avoid letting them in, you’re denying them an opportunity to do what they’re good at.
Of course, not everyone is in a position to offer advice. And when it comes from some people, it’s not welcome. But you often have a gut feel for when someone really is offering the goods, and when they’re not.
Open Your Heart And Mind
Many people believe that they have the whole world figured out. Their hearts and minds are closed to the people around them. They have a certain idea of how a person is, and they stick with it.
The trick here is to open your heart and mind to the truth about people. And the way to do this is to avoid putting labels on them.
Most people are quite complicated deep down. While they might appear to be simple at the surface, there are a lot of things going on behind the scenes.
You’ll want to open yourself to these possibilities. Avoid putting anyone in a box or telling them what their role should be. You never know how someone will flourish.
Remember People When They Depart
Another way to honor people is to remember them when they pass away. Obituaries by Tribute Memorials is one way to do this. You can honor someone’s life by writing a beautiful memorial or you can plan a little party that celebrates their life. You can create a slideshow to remember all the good times, and invite a few close friends/relatives to speak on their behalf.
Keep Challenging Assumptions
Assumptions are often dangerous. Much of the time, you don’t know you have them until something comes along and disrupts them. And when that happens, you can find yourself in crisis.
The trick here is to challenge your assumptions. As soon as you notice yourself concluding something about someone else, take note and reflect. Ask whether the assumption is warranted and if it even makes sense. Question yourself relentlessly to find out whether you are on the right track, or if you have got something wrong.
Show Compassion
Honoring people also involves showing compassion. That’s because life is hard and no one truly has it easy.
Whenever you interact with someone, assume that they are fighting a battle. Even if they have all the material advantages in life, make sure that you look at the person behind the mask. Almost always, they are just as scared and fearful as you.
Take the millionaire or the billionaire. From the outside, it seems like they have everything. But even they face problems. For instance, they might worry about their personal safety, or they could be struggling with their financial losses. They might have conflicts in their family, or they could have made a lot of enemies because of the steps they took to acquire all their wealth. They might even suffer from mental health issues.
Celebrate Other People’s Accomplishments
Taking pride in someone else’s success is a mark of true character. Not many people can manage it. While they are happy about the achievement, they can’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.
Genuinely celebrating the accomplishments of others is a selfless act. It seems like there’s nothing in it for you. But if you can do it, you can live a much happier and joyful life.
Find Something You Agree On
Lastly, honoring people often involves finding something that you agree upon. Sure, in today’s politically divided world, this feat can be challenging. But if you manage it, you’ll stand out, and you’ll be able to forge a connection with the person you’re speaking with.
When you find common ground, it makes it much easier to avoid getting locked into an argument. And that can preserve friendships and relationships with people.
The Takeaway
Honoring the people around you is important for building long-lasting relationships. It shows you genuinely care about the people in your life, and that you will be there for them no matter what. In turn, those same people will likely be there for you, to lift you up and care for you, when you need it the most. So, honor the people in your life, and do it well!
