Consider this : ask yourself this question often

May 11, 2010 in Uncategorized

Ask yourself often, "'What do I see when I see people?"

Like all good questions this will slow you down. And slowing down when it comes to judging others will make you gentle and keep you kind.

Because the first thing we see when we meet others is their mask. But if you pause and think a bit, you'll see someone like you. Someone's child. Someone who is uncertain. Someone looking for a star to guide them.

It's always easier to be kind when you know "they" are struggling just like you.

-Mike Wagner

www.OwnYourBrand.com

I am gathering wisdom from the far corners of the earth to give my older daughter, Emma, as she graduates from high school. What would you say to her? Or to your own 17-year-old self? What thoughts would you ask her to consider? You can submit your advice (instructions here) and 37 of those will be posted over the next 37 days, one each day, culminating in a free e-book of all the submissions after her graduation on June 14th.

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

1 comment to " Consider this : ask yourself this question often "


Megan Zuniga

May 11, 2010 AT 12:33PM

Interesting question. Sometimes, we do tend to be egocentric. And when we start looking at other people, we compare ourselves to them. And there in lies the danger. We start comparing ourselves to others, we start envying what they have, or what they do, wishing we were other people. The good side to that is we could be motivated to do better.
But in the end, we’re all humans. We all wake up with messy hairs and will eventually die. Pretty much, everyone goes through the same stages in life.
Speaking of masks, this article reminded me of http://sn.im/uxpjq – the vampires in our lives that we must be wary of.