I've heard some people say that respect is something that has to be earned and not given. I do have to admit that when I hear that, it makes me wonder why why and how they came to believe in that concept.

I come from a different point of view, where I believe that respect should be given to all people right from the beginning- meaning that we should respect everyone and show respect to them right from the beginning. By saying "everyone", I mean all people including our family members, friends and even strangers.

Your First Impression Is Usually Right

We all form a first impression of people we come across in life, sometimes within seconds of being exposed to them for the first time. It's a very natural thing that people do, either based on past experiences or their gut instinct or "intuition".

You Don't Have to Fit In

When I was a young boy, all I wanted to do is fit in with the rest of the kids in town and at school. I basically just wanted to be like everyone else and not stand out as different.

I was a Hispanic person living in a white neighborhood and going to a white school. There weren't any other people like me around. I also felt different than the other kids in other ways, but I'd discover why later on in my teens when I realized I was gay. [Read More...]

How to Help Someone to Grieve After a Death

A while ago, a very close friend of mine asked me how she could help her boyfriend to grieve the recent and very sudden loss of his family member. Having been through the grieving process several times myself, I was able to guide her with some techniques that helped me during my times of grief.

So I've compiled a list of ways that you can help someone to grieve. In a couple weeks for my next post, I'll list some things to NOT say to or do with a person who is grieving.[Read more...]

Brutal Honesty is Just an Excuse to be Mean

Some people seem to feel the uncontrollable urge to be "brutally honest" nowadays in voicing their opinions about things and other people. They do it without any regards to how badly it can make others feel. They sometimes even go so far as to brag about how brutally honest they are.

Basically, this whole Brutal Honesty thing is just an excuse to be tactless in how one says something to or about others without respecting their dignity. It's an excuse to be downright mean and hostile.

Perhaps it came about with the birth of social media. People feel that they can say whatever they want to, because there is a sense of anonymity. People can be brazen and be tough on-line in ways that they would be afraid to be in person. People who have self esteem issues feel it makes them feel better about themselves to belittle others. [Read more...]

Relationships, Inspirational & Self-HelpTJNovember 11, 2016honesty, respect, bullying, social media Comments

Be True to Your Word

People respect those who are true to their word. It's a sign of integrity and character to mean what you say and to do what you say you're going to do. On the flip side, people lose respect for those who do not keep their word and thus disappoint others.

Here are some ways that you can be true to your word and build and hold onto lasting relationships:

Don't say you'll do something if you can't.

If someone asks you for a favor asks for volunteers to do something, don't say yes or volunteer unless you will actually follow through and fulfill your obligation. How many times have people said to you, "Sure, I'll help you" and then when the day comes, they're nowhere to be found? [Read more...]