How to Become More Classy and Gain More Respect

So you want to become more classy and gain more respect. You are tired of being disrespected, and determined to change that. Well, let's talk about it.

How to Become More Classy

Many think you become more classy by improving your appearance. They think of classy people as those who are tony, chic, elegant, stylish, and fashionable.

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary definition of classy employs words such as elegant, stylish, admirably skillful, graceful, attractive, and special. The examples it gives of being classy feature phrases such as "the classiest nightclub in Madrid" and "the spa boasts some very classy clients".

How to become more classy is an endeavor, it seems, that depends on money. If you have more money to spend on the latest, most stylish fashions, you can become more classy. If you can afford a truly chic hairstyle, a full weekly manicure and a weekly pedicure, then you can become more classy. If you have more money to buy a tony car, you can become more classy.

This thinking has led men and women who have less money to spend foolishly. Depending on taxpayers for life's necessities, many spend other monies on designer items such as sunglasses and handbags in an effort to become more classy. Sadly, these purchases do not gain more respect for their owners.

Good News

The good news is that respect is not based on your degree of class. Respect does not demand elegance, chic, style, skill, gracefulness, or attractiveness. Respect does not require that you be special in some way - or wealthy. Respect is as available to those who can barely make financial ends meet as it is to those who are rolling in wealth.

To learn how to become more classy and gain more respect is a flawed goal. Learning how to gain more respect is, however, an ideal goal. Let's look at some realistic steps you can take to gain more respect.

How to Gain More Respect

Three steps stand between you and increased respect.

1. Knowledge: Begin by gaining an understanding of true respect. Find a good definition of respect and memorize it. Study it and read articles about respect to be sure you know enough to explain authentic respect to someone else. Then move to Step #2.


2. Desire: You probably think you already have a desire for more respect. You did when you decided to read this article, but maybe that desire was not for real respect. Maybe that was just a desire for people to treat you as though you're important. Maybe you just wanted to wear a shiny crown and have people bow to you. You need to want the kind of respect in the definition mentioned in #1 above. Only then will you be ready to move to...


3. Action: Use your tongue to speak to others and about others in a way that says you think they have great value. Dress your body in neat, clean (not expensive) clothing that shows others you think they have value. Do things for others that proves you think they are worthy of high esteem.

At this point, you may be frowning, shaking your head, and saying, "Stop! I wanted to learn how to become more classy and gain more respect for ME, not for others! You say I have to speak well about others, but I want them to speak well about ME! You tell me to dress modestly so I don't offend others, but I want to dress like royalty so they'll think I'm great! You insist that I go out of my way to do things for others that will prove I think they are worthy of me helping them, but I want to be the one served!"

Of course. You want to gain more respect for yourself than for others, as you say. The fact is, however, that we gain more respect from others when we first show more respect to others.

When we show others that we think they have value and are worthy of being regarded highly by us, we add more value to ourselves.

Conclusion

As a high school teacher and principal, I tangled frequently over the years with both students and parents who thought they deserved more respect. They were not willing to give respect to others, but they were sure others should show respect to them. Some learned the truth about real respect, and took appropriate steps to build it into their own lives. Sadly, others still want to learn how to become more classy in order to gain more respect. It will never happen.

© 2015, Elizabeth L Hamilton. The author urges you to learn more about gaining respect at http://www.character-in-action.com. Visit my website to find definitions of respect as well as books, videos and articles on building respect and other important character traits into your life and the lives of your children.

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