Step one in how to earn respect in your relationships requires honesty.

You have to be honest with yourself. this is a place where you ask the questions What do I want from this relationship? or What is my role? Am I satisfied with how things are going?

Asking these question allows you to view the relationship in a objective way, and it may allow you to view the value in your own mind. Having a good understanding of where you see a relationship going is quite frankly liberating, and can help to solidify it through more difficult times.

Being honest with the other person involved comes next because if you aren't honest with yourself to start, how could you possibly be honest with someone else. So if you are happy, express it, if you aren't sure where your relationship is going, express that. Of course do so in an appropriate manner.

Step two in how to earn respect in your relationships revolves around boundaries.

Everyone has boundaries whether they admit it or not. Boundaries are like they sound, limitations. Knowing your boundaries (limitations) and being tactful in sharing those go a long way when discovering how to earn respect in you relationships.

Boundaries are made up within our belief systems, our values, and what we have learned. there are good boundaries and there are bad boundaries.

Step 3 in how to earn respect in your relationships is the 5 in 1 rule.

The 5 in 1 rule is simple. Say you are mad at another person in a relationship and you just don't feel like you can live with that, and you just have to say something.

Well say it using the 5 in 1 rule. For every negative thing that you have to say to the other person, start by saying 5 positive things.

This will go a long way in helping you to not only maintain healthy relationships, but it will also take the defensiveness out of the other person and ultimately you want to keep your relationships happy.