It's Great to be Me!

I like being me!

Have you ever thought of what the world would be like if we were all the same?  Theoretically, we all know it's wishful thinking, but it still doesn’t prevent us from wishing it at times.  There are times when you really wished everyone else was like you, thought the same way, responded to things in the same sense of fashion and appreciated the things you appreciate. 

I can very much imagine how it would be like if everyone was me.  Less stress all round, more color, less social events (because no one would attend), more productivity, less…I could go on and on.  But of course that can’t be so.   People are different, like different things and respond to situations differently.  Those differences as much as they cause frictions, disagreements and wars, also ensure balance and harmony. 

Remember that if there weren’t pain we won’t know pleasure, if it doesn’t get cloudy, we wouldn’t enjoy the sun much, and if we didn’t have any boring people, comedians wouldn’t make a fortune.  

I have recently come to an acceptance of certain facts in life that is helping me very much in my relationships.

• You can’t control how people act around you; you can only control how you respond to their actions:  So this is an old one we ‘re all supposed to know, right? But I keep realizing that people generally reflect the emotions around them a lot more than they should.  It is easy to be defensive to a censorship by a colleague instead of not validating that censorship.   Don’t let people draw you into negative emotions just because you have to live with them or work with them…set your own tone and don't make others miserable because you want to be miserable!

• Everyone has weaknesses, but they also have strengths:  It is so easy to focus on the weaknesses of the people around us that sometimes we forget they also have strengths.  Everyone has a good side to them…even Hitler did…he was a good organizer.    When you have to work with people, try not to focus only on their negatives.  That is easy to do.  Focus on the strengths they bring to bear and how those strengths help move things forward.  A continuous affirmation of these strengths could really help the person focus on them as well.  

• We are all different.  Accept that and you may live long!  Stop wasting you life expecting people to be like you.  First accept that everyone is different and has a unique temperament, and find out more about their uniqueness so you can accept who and what they are.   A study on temperaments will reveal that people act a certain way because they’re genetically inclined to do so. Stressing about someone’s personality is useless and trying to change others so we can be comfortable is a waste of time.

Remember, that everyone has a part to play in a team…if all the players focus on their role and do their best, that team will be successful.