Respect and Affection

Ziad Rayess argues in his book "Shortcut for a Better Life" that even seemingly minor actions and remarks can have a profound impact on how others perceive us, fostering feelings of respect, affection, and regard.

Greetings, handshakes, special holiday wishes, paying attention to children, listening to the elderly, and offering rides to others are a few examples. By doing these things, one can make others feel cared for, respected, and appreciated. It is important to develop these behaviors into habits and work on them consistently until they become an automatic part of our behavior.

In his book "Shortcut for a Better Life", the writer "Ziad Rayess" mentions: Some simple actions and words can cause a massive shift in people’s interactions with others and bring them a new level of respect, affection, and appreciation for those around them. Some examples include the word “please,” meaning, “I respect you,” and the phrase “thank you,” which, the more I say it, means “I appreciate you.”

Some things that encourage love and familiarity:

1. Greeting people you see in the street and shaking people’s hands, young and old.
2. Walking a guest to their car or the elevator and waiting until they leave.
3. Offering special holiday greetings and shaking people’s hands with care.
4. Listening to the elderly and giving children your attention.
5. Offering others rides, especially elderly people or your wife.

I have found that when you do these things or say these words, the other person will, at the very least, feel that the one reaching out to them in peace cares about them. They will feel that you respect and appreciate them, and that you’re giving them a bit of affection and love, regardless of their profession or status—even if they’re a server at a coffee shop or restaurant. Frank Byrne said, “Respect is love in plain clothes.”

It’s important for people to work on dedicating themselves to these actions and ways of speaking to the point that they become a habit. Yes, every mother, father, and educator, every one of us must dedicate themselves to these behaviors and ways of talking, and through practice, attention, and implementing them exceptionally well, they will become an unbreakable habit.

It’s not enough to memorize and regurgitate the words or to list out arguments from ideologies we support. We must focus on practical application. Members of a single family must agree to remind each other to apply these ideas—not by shaming each other or becoming irritated, but out of the affection and love they share. This requires committing a bit of time each day to these simple behaviors, to the point that they become unconscious habits. These habits will make a real difference and have noticeable effects over time. You will stand out from those around you.

Take the initiative. Never be stingy with a kind word; express your kindness and affection on every possible occasion, to people of every age, sharing with everyone around you. Eventually, this behavior should become second nature to you, which surely will benefit yourself first and others second.

Conclusion:

Ziad Rayess' book, in its conclusion, highlights the importance of little deeds and words in influencing how we interact with others for the better. Simple acts that demonstrate care and love should consistently be practiced until they are ingrained in our behavior and become habits. By expressing our kindness and affection on every possible occasion, we can create a better life for ourselves and others around us. So let's take the initiative and, one small action at a time, work to improve the world.