“Treat everyone with politeness—even those who are rude to you. For remember that you show courtesy to others not because they are gentlemen, but because you are one.” – Charles Dickens.
It is so easy to get upset at others because of the things they say and do. We often fail to realize that they have problems just as much as we do. I learned years ago that many people get upset because of the problems in their own lives, not necessarily something I said or did.
We should try to look at people as “broken,” rather than “bad”, you wouldn’t throw an expensive watch away if it broke — sadly, we are often quick to throw away people in our lives.
As Plato once said, “be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” For some people, that might mean a loved one is dying or has died; for another it might be the presence of a very prominent zit. There is no relativity in suffering; no ladder exists, but we are all walking around with some measure of it inside us.
BE NICE TO YOURSELF
I will also say, learn to be nice to yourself. Seriously, so many people punish and give-up on themselves. Talent can be our enemy if we’re not careful. Many famous and talented people have commit suicide. Oftentimes, we are too hard on ourselves. Sometimes people hate themselves for things that are beyond their control, don’t feel guilty about things you have little or no control over.
Remember, though, that what goes around comes around! Research has shown that being kind to others increases our own levels of happiness as well as theirs. What’s more, it has a knock-on effect – kindness is contagious, so it makes a bigger impact on our surroundings than we might think.
Key points:
- Your kindness will probably come back to you in one way or another.
- Kindness is rational and makes sense for societies.
- Being kind often takes courage, like most good things do! Don’t let that put you off.
- Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.
Simply Simple 