1. To respect a guy, don’t play with his sexuality and drives. Cause him to love and see you as a person, and not just as an object.

   She doesn’t use her body to manipulate him. If you only take one thing from this blog, get this one. Girls, you have an incredible power to control guys with your appearance, simply because guys are driven so intensely by what they see when they look at a girl and the beauty of her body. To respect a guy, don’t play with his sexuality and drives. Cause him to love and see you as a person, and not just as an object. When you flirt with him you can easily appeal to his lust, rather than who he is as a person. Dressing modestly and refusing to be flirtatious, also shows your boyfriend you aren’t trying to attract other guys.
   
   
2. She asks his opinion. Every person wants to be respected. Guys in particular crave to be looked at as a leader--someone whose ideas are important. Guys want to know you are interested in what they think. He feels respected when you care about how he thinks and feels. Then when you take the time to listen, it’s even more powerful. He will feel deeply valued by you. Someone commented to me this week: “If a girl asks a guy's opinion, if he answers honestly (and preferably tactfully) with an answer she didn't want, she needs to realize that he respected her enough not to lie to her, and she needs to respect his opinion, even if she doesn't agree with it, and not get angry with him because of it.”
   
   

3. Don’t try to put words in his mouth, you’ll only show him you think he doesn’t know what to say.

   She is patient with him when he has a difficult time expressing himself. Many guys have a hard time communicating, especially their thoughts and emotions. There are going to be many times he wants you to know what he’s feeling, but he is just going to need a little more time actually getting it out. Don’t try to put words in his mouth, you’ll only show him you think he doesn’t know what to say. You can however, repeat back to him what you heard him say, so you both are on the same page.
   
   
4. She encourages and supports him. Guys easily feel belittled by girls. When you cheer on your man, you are breathing life into his soul. Telling him you believe in him and support what he is attempting to achieve is a very powerful way to show your guy you respect him. When he feels that support from you, the confidence you are pouring into him will help him to feel invincible. Someone once said, “Behind every great man, is a great woman.” Some girls are so stuck on their own needs they can’t seem to give encouragement and inspiration to the guys they know. So give a guy a gift he will never forget: the gift of encouragement.
   
   

5. When you cheer on your man, you are breathing life into his soul.

   She doesn’t exhaust him with all the little details. It’s easy to want to make sure your boyfriend gets all the details of your life. He is interested in you, but he gets worn out easily if you bog down your stories with all kinds of extra details. Try to make it easier for him to process all the information you want him to know.
   
   
6. She knows she doesn’t own him. She doesn’t demand he be there for her 24 hours a day. Just because the two of you may be dating, doesn’t put you in charge of his life. When you let him have his own life, making his own decisions, spending time with his friends, it shows you respect him, and will make you more attractive to him. Lindsey commented she knew her boyfriend’s time was limited with his working full-time and going to school full-time. “I never tried to demand lots of time from him. Instead I would make him a meal and meet him between classes or on his lunch break at work. He really appreciated it, and I felt like I was respecting his schedule while still fitting in time to see him.”
   
   

7. Showing respect to your boyfriend is the very best way you can show him that you love him.

   She must respect herself. There are many girls who are extremely insecure and are convinced they are not worth being loved or respected by others. So they end up sabotaging their relationships with guys because of their low self-esteem. They tend to be constantly asking their guy if they are still being loved by him. It’s very difficult for a guy to respect a girl who doesn’t respect herself, or see herself as worthy to be loved. Jonathan had some great thoughts I must include. “A girl must also respect herself; if a guy desires to date her or even just be her friend, he must like something about her. By not liking herself, she is also saying that her friend’s and/or boyfriend’s opinions of her don't mean anything to her. If she returns compliments with contradictory remarks, she is not respecting the guy's opinion, or his attempt to respect her.”
   
   

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008 - 5:33:39 PM
Now this is something to take in for girls. I no from experience, because I have a nice shaped body for a young age and dudes always try to take the best of me. But I don't let that get to me because I know I am better than that. I do dress pretty much out there, but when I see a dude looking at me in a way I don't like I say something to them. I don't let them think they can get me I make them think I am hard to get. Which I am because if they can't buy me a house or pay my bills, get me new clothes and put good food in my stomache, then they ain't worth it so you girls out there need to let the dudes come after you in agood way not a disrespectful way. Well peace peple.
- -brittney w.

Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008 - 1:54:29 AM
THANK YOU SO MUCH DAWSON! for this little part right here! :: "Dressing modestly and refusing to be flirtatious, also shows your boyfriend you aren’t trying to attract other guys." Some girls are so dumb when it comes to this part they get a boyfriend and then they turn around and flirt with anythng witb pants on! all my guy friends complain to me about it! >c
- Courtney M."Cam"

Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 - 11:50:06 PM
Respecting yourself is one of the most important things you could ever do in life. First off, you have to respect yourself physically, God made us all unique, why not take care of the body he gave us. This doesn't mean you have to be a health nut and be at the gym all the time, but why not take your dog for a walk instead of playing guitar hero? Also, you must respect yourself emotionally and mentally. If you think you are stupid, so will other people. I firmly believe you are as good as you want to be. If you don't respect yourself and take care of yourself, no one else will.
- Amy

Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 - 11:14:46 PM
My 23 year old fiance knows how to treat me. He has never laid one hand on me, and he never will. I am 27 and we have 2 kids together.He does not disrespect me, because he knows I will kick him to the curb. He takes me out to dinner, and I do that same thing for him. Give him respect and he'll respect you always if you know when to put your foot down!!!!You are not a doormat!!
- Melissa F.

Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 - 6:25:29 PM
I never realized how condescending I was towards guys. Thank you, now I know why they all push me away, I mean I thought I gave them room to do whatever because i've always been like that, gave them time with their friends and stuff but I never asked his opinions and only thought about myself, maybe I'll have a great marriage when I get older, I'm only 15 but this really does help. We always think boys have no feelings, because we don't give them time to express themselves... I need to be more patient and understanding, I was always quick to blame others, this is a wake up call.Thank you Dawson.
- Cynthia S

Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 - 3:00:42 AM
This is for the respecting yourself thing (and im 14 so give me a break if it's not good). I've had a lot of experience with low-selfesteem and that kinda stuff. Well, my advice is to ignore the people who put you down and then say to yourself "they cant catigorize you if they dont know you". I got called many bad things and saying that made me feel better. I made friends with people like me, got rid of friends that put me down and before i knew it, i was happier then ever before. And if that doesnt work, go and talk to someone you trust or write it down in your diary/journal (just make sure no one reads it -_- i still am mad at my mom for doing it). Listen to uplifting music, go on walks in beautiful parks, join clubs and sport teams, read books. Smell flowers and just enjoy being you. No one can truely understand the way you think, the way you do things and ect. So, dont think you're a freak cause of it. Turn it upside down and say "that's why i respect and love who i am". It makes you specail, beautiful and someone people love to be around. Being different is a blessing, not a curse. Someone always says "i wana be normal. I wana be like him/her." well, wake-up from lala land cuz you are normal, you wana be like her/him, then wake up and smell the coffee cause everyone's different and nothing can change that. And, i gaurenty that if you TRY to be someone that your not, you'll end up miserable. So, respecting yourself is to love who you are, love who your personality and not wishing to be like a "normal person". We all have problems, we all have strentghs and weaknesses, we all need to be comforted at times. Just, dont make a big deal out of little things, relax and enjoy random things. Laugh at stupid jokes that dont make sense (lol) and just chilax. PS sorry for the misspelled words and if it was WAY long lol SORRY
- Ericka

Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 - 2:11:49 AM
This would be my idea for self respect. This goes for Guys and Girls: Take care of yourself: brush your teeth, comb your hair, dress nicely (not to bring attention either over-fashionably or sloppily), don't overeat or undereat!, eat what is good for you, drink water, More importantly, Take care of yourself: read rour bible, pray, and incorporate the fruits of the Spirit into your life.
- Janice

Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 - 2:11:29 AM
Thanks for the awsome advice. I always listen to your show and read the blogs. You have helped me sooo much. This blog is so true cause everyone talks about girls needen to be respected but guys are just the same. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!!!!
- Tiffany

Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 - 1:37:22 AM
I have learned that to respect myself I have to try to see me as God sees me.He created all of us special.Have you ever made something like drawn a picture for example, and it was just amazing. And your so proud of it, you didn't think you had it in you to make that.Now take that and imagine how God must feel about creating us.Something that heals itself when its wounded, and thinks and moves for itself.Since i've looked at myself that way ive seen a whole different me in the mirror everyday.Even without my makeup.
- Shelby

Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 - 12:49:49 AM
hey dawson my name is shay me and my ex boyfriend broke up in the summer and this blog helped me understand so much. he had a hard time at home and now that i think about it i could've made it so much easier on him. i hate that me and him broke up but i guess things happen for reasons that is what i have always heard from my friends but now i understand so much thanks bunches for this blog it helped me out alot.
- Shay

Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 - 12:14:50 AM
You give really great advice. There has been many times that i have wanted to call in but i dont because i am not the only one that has this problem you tell people excatly what to do and it helps me out alot and i am glad that i am not the only that has that problem. I just thought that i would say that you do a really great show and i am go glad that you do. thanks so much.
- miranda

Monday, Sep 22, 2008 - 6:41:10 PM
Thanks for posting this. I've been kind of looking for something like this just to know how to keep a good relationship w/ any girl, not just 1 that's a gf.
- Juggernaut

Monday, Sep 22, 2008 - 6:23:44 PM
i think that i what i put my boyfriend throgh we have to show them respect cause if we dont they will treat us like crap and i love my now boyfriend the one i treated wrong we broke up and know we are married and about to have a kid on the way i am happy casue i ahve treated him like a person i wanna be treated like i am treating him right now
- Kassi B. aka sissy

Monday, Sep 22, 2008 - 1:58:37 AM
You always give great advice. Their are a lot of times im thinking of calling in but i never need to, cause what you say to others help, without me even needing to call its great. lol and just saying alot of people think that im a guy cause of my name but im a girl... just thought i would put that in their incase anyone was wonderin lol
- VonShay

Monday, Sep 22, 2008 - 12:45:01 AM
I went to a conference at church about relationships. The one thing the speaker said that really shocked me was that men value respect more than they value love. The speaker took several polls with 1000's of men & asked if they could be loved or respected, which would they choose? The surveys showed over 90% of men chose respect as the more important thing. In they same way women want to be loved & admired, men want to be encouraged & respected. In the bible it says "men love your wives and women respect your husbands". I guess we all look over that idea as an suggestion instead of a obvious solution to our relationship problems.
- Mandye

Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 - 11:26:09 PM
OMG dawson i luv your show you are exactly right i cant wait to try out this tip i think that you are a great guy from GOD! I love your show and you blogs you are so real i wish you were on every night thanx your a great person 2 do sumthin wit tha young people this is exactly what the young people need Thanx from the bottom of my heart kant wait til nextweek
- Alexis

Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 - 10:59:35 PM
One thing that guys just can't stand is when a girl gets her friends to dump you for her. If a girl views this, they need to know that
- Cole

Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 - 10:37:33 PM
Hey Dawson!! What can I say? Another awsome blog!! I can't wait till next weeks!!!! Speaking of it, I'll tell you what I think about respecting yourself. First of all, if you want to respect yourself, you have to know who you are. You need to know your strengths, weaknesses, and your emotions really well. In short, you need to get more familiar with yourself and not become something that others want you to be, because that does not in any way show that you respect yourself cause you'd be willing to just "change to please."
- Cynthia

Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 - 10:08:35 PM
I agree with this. I think both guys and girls deserve respect, and I intend to make sure that I do respect my boyfriend at all times.
- Alyssa C.

Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 - 9:56:46 PM
DUDE!!!!! you rock i'm listening to the show right now. This is such a great blog. It seems like guys need to be taught on girls, but sometimes its just the other way around.
- Cole

Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 - 8:35:42 PM
Yeah dawson this si very true were we dont seem to care but we also need ot be respected just like we respect girls
- Collin

Sunday, Sep 21, 2008 - 6:57:26 PM
This is so very true. i know this has a lot to do with my last realtionship not working.
- Taryn

Saturday, Sep 20, 2008 - 11:54:48 PM
Yet agian, its like you can read my mind.. great job. i think this is great advice and should be taken by every girl out there
- Travis

Saturday, Sep 20, 2008 - 6:18:45 PM
That just shocked the mess out of me. I think i need to take that in alittle more than what i take everything else. Maybe that will help me wit my problems. I really like that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Alex

Saturday, Sep 20, 2008 - 3:40:50 PM
Thanks Mr.Dawson for the great blog. l think u have given us young men some breathing room. Me personally, I feel very confident about myself. If I didn't then I would not be able to believe that I could achieve my goals in life. But as human beings we are always learning about ourselves everyday, because life is a daily process.
- Deacon-B

Saturday, Sep 20, 2008 - 1:31:34 AM
Its true. Every word of this article- I mean, everyone expects you to respect girls, but the boys aren't really considered to have feelings.
- Jewel