No one is inherently good or bad. Only the circumstance in which we encounter each other is good or bad. A criminal who happens to stop a car from running over me is an angel sent by God. A Nobel Peace Prize winner who happens to bump into me on the subway is a jerk. In a gathering of seven or eight people, we will surely meet one or two who like us a lot and one or two who are not that fond of us. Don’t take it personally; this is just the way of the world.
Let people have their own opinions— they are entitled to them. It is when you want to change their opinion problems arise. This is not only impossible and futile but also unnecessary. How boring would the world be if everyone thought exactly the same way? When you grant people freedom, you will find yours, too.
What is the use of someone carrying a designer handbag when her behavior lacks the same refinement? The more you try to change your spouse, children, or friends, the more difficult and strained your relationships become. People do not change easily, unless they suffer tremendous hardship or have a life-altering experience.
Excerpt From: Haemin Sunim. “The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm and Mindful in a Fast-Paced World”. Apple Books.
I love this!
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Thank you Jill. people’s worldview is malleable, and while some of us are born without the biological tools to easily empathize with others; others have the genetic tools but are taught to ignore them and harm others for some higher purpose or even some base emotional thrill. In both cases people are not all good or all bad; they simply are manipulated or decide for themselves to be more one or the other.
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Very well said and i totally agree. I never judge a book by its cover and i also never believe others opinions about someone. I might proceed with caution but i also make the final judgement for myself.
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Yes thank you for sharing
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Nice 👍
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Thank you Roshni. Our legal system is based on whether a person who harmed others is capable of distinguishing right from wrong. Almost always they feel remorse for their choice, therefore revealing an element of good. So we’re a mixed bag. The important distinction you have to make is whether any given individual will add value to your life or destroy it — instantly or gradually.
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Agree
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👍🏼👍🏼
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So true, so challenging. Thanks
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Most welcome
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Most of us think of goodness or evil in relative terms in comparison to others. When we compare ourselves to others, more often than not we think we are better than others.
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When our reality’s so unique that comparisons, if seen from afar, will collapse like paper castles in the wind
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Exactly
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Thank you for sharing
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