Too often, we allow others to take advantage of us in our personal relationships. We make excuses for their bad behavior, or we try to convince ourselves that it's not really that big of a deal. But it is a big deal! If you don't stand up for yourself and demand to be treated with respect, you will never get the treatment you deserve. Here are three tips for how to get the treatment you deserve in your personal relationships.
1. Define Your Expectations.
The first step is to define your expectations for how you should be treated in a relationship. What does respect look like to you? What are your boundaries? When you know what you expect, it becomes much easier to recognize when those expectations are not being met and to decide on how you will handle the relationship going forward.
2. Communicate Your Expectations Clearly.
Once you have defined your expectations, it's important to communicate them clearly to your friends, family, and romantic partners. This can be difficult, especially if you're afraid of upsetting the other person or coming across as demanding. But it's essential for getting the treatment you deserve. Be assertive and direct in your communication, and don't be afraid to set boundaries. Your feelings and level of respect are equally as important as anyone else's.
3. Don't Settle for Less Than What You Deserve.
It can be tempting to just let things slide when someone doesn't treat us the way we want them to. We tell ourselves that it's not really that big of a deal, or that the other person didn't mean any harm by it. But when we do this, we are settling for less than we deserve. So next time someone doesn't treat you with the respect you deserve, don't let it slide—stand up for yourself!
Final thought:
You deserve to be treated with respect in all of your personal relationships—period! Defining and communicating your expectations is key to getting the treatment you deserve. And finally, don't ever settle for less than what you deserve—you are worth so much more than that!