As Masons, we are deeply and profoundly committed to living a values-based life—one devoted to Brotherly Love, Tolerance, Charity, and Truth. And if you are one of the more than 6,000 members of the Maine Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, your membership is based on a Masonic affiliation or relationship, and you hold a similar belief in God, and a desire to engage in self-improvement and to acquire additional knowledge.
So how should your values impact your relationships with women? Why do those values require treating women respectfully? In a nutshell, it is because women were created by God just as you were, and because the women in your life—your mother, grandmother, wife, girlfriend, sister, friend—will deepen and enrich your life as only a woman can if you know how to nurture and respect her. Let’s take a moment to look at 5 specifics of treating women with respect …
Get Good at “Active Listening”
As we mentioned in a recent blog, engaging in “active listening” is one of the most powerful ways to demonstrate respect for others. This goes doubly for your relationships with women. Quite simply, treating women with respect starts with listening to her—listening with your ears, heart, and mind. This is particularly critical if she is being vulnerable with you, or sharing something particularly important to her.
Value Her Opinions
Paying special attention to—and factoring in—what your wife, girlfriend, sister, etc., says about small and large things in your life is another powerful means of treating women with respect. By making a conscious effort to value her opinions, you’ll make her feel “seen and heard.” That, in turn, shows that you value and respect her.
Make Her Feel Secure
Do your best to make women feel emotionally and physically secure around you. Don’t ever lapse into disrespectful “mind games” or into doing such things as flirting with other women just to make your wife or girlfriend feel jealous. By treating a woman respectfully, you make it much easier for her to give all she has to your relationship.
Be Honest with Her
No matter what type of relationship you have with a woman, you should always bring honesty to the table. By being scrupulously honest with her, you are demonstrating to her that you understand she deserves to be treated with integrity and respect. And this will go both ways: She’ll also respect YOU more.
Always Speak Respectfully
At all times, be mindful of your choice of words. This will be especially important if you’re having a disagreement with a woman. You have, of course, every right to voice your opinion, but that should NEVER include using demeaning words directed at the woman. In fact, try to rid yourself of those problematic words irrespective of whether you are arguing or not. You’ll find that treating women with respect becomes noticeably easier when you free yourself of the kind of regressive and/or misogynistic thinking that those words spring from.
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