Golden Rule Living
I'm often reminded of how my mother always imbedded in me and my brothers at a very young age to treat others as we would want to be treated. I didn't realize until I was much older that this actually came from the Bible. She also taught us to be the better person and to always be kind because there is a reason why people act the way that they do, and it could be due to circumstances they do not control.
Let's say that you apply the golden rule in all of your interactions with other people. You help your neighbors, you treat your family with kindness, you go the extra mile for your co-workers, and you help a stranger in need.
Now, those actions will undoubtedly be good for the people you help and are kind too, but you will also notice a strange thing. People will also treat you better. Beyond that you will find a growing satisfaction in yourself, a belief in yourself, a knowledge that you are a good person and a trust in yourself.
With that in mind, let's take a look at some practical tips for living the golden rule in your daily life.
Practice empathy - Make it a habit to try to place yourself in the shoes of another person. Really try to understand to the extent that you can, what it is like to be them, what they are going through and why they do what they do.
Practice compassion - Once you can understand another person, and feel what they are going through, see if there is any way you can help them.
Listen to others - We all want to talk but very few of us want to listen. So, take the time to actually listen to another person, rather than just wait your turn to talk. It will also go a long way to helping you understand others.
Overcome prejudices - We all have our prejudices, whether it is based on skin color, attractiveness, height, age, or gender. But try to see each person as an individual human being with different backgrounds, needs and dreams. Try to see the commonalities between you and that person, despite your differences.
One of the key principles in getting along with people is the golden rule. It helps you relate to people and gives you an instant guide to follow when it comes to behavior. The golden rule is generally defined as treating others as you would like to be treated.
Try to live by the golden rule and see just how much better your life can be.
;)
