How to Have Respectful Friends
Mutual respect is one of the key ingredients in a rewarding friendship. Cultivate this aspect of your relationship and enjoy the benefits of respectful friends.
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Instructions
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Choose your friends wisely. Especially in youth, it is tempting to associate with people who are popular and fun to be around. Unfortunately, sometimes popularity is gained through unsavory behavior, and the life of the party crosses lines in their partying. Make good decisions about whom you want to be friends with, and set the standard high. Use the person's character as your first criteria and you immediately weed out people who are likely to be disrespectful.
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Be the kind of friend you want in return. Mirror the behavior and respect you expect from your friends and they are likely to treat you respectfully as well. The old adage is true: We do teach people how to treat us. If you break engagements, are rude and inconsiderate and otherwise treat your buddies disrespectfully, you are setting an example of the kind of friendship you have. Be considerate, kind and polite to your friends and you can expect them to show you similar respect.
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Confront a friend who is showing you disrespect. We all make mistakes and let our friends down. If your friend is acting in a unacceptable way, make a point to speak to her immediately. Letting tension in a friendship fester only makes the problem worse. If your friend is making you uncomfortable with her behavior, say something. Be upfront and clear but not condemning or accusatory. If your friend is a good one, he will be open to listening to you and making changes in the interest of maintaining your friendship.
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End a friendship if necessary. If you have a friend whose level of respect does not meet your expectations and she refuses to make changes, you must be willing to distance yourself from that person. Continuing to be close to someone who acts disrespectful to parents, authority figures and peers reflects poorly on your own character and will degrade the quality of the people who are willing to spend time with you. It is better to cut ties and seek people who are more likely to fit your idea of a respectful friend.
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