Life goes smoother when we're kind to others.
But how do we do that? How can we be kind to others when maybe they're not so nice to us?
Maybe they treat us badly on the job. Or they cut us off on the phone. Or on the highway. How do we rise above that and be nice to them?
What works for me is to realize that whenever someone is rude or impolite there's usually a story behind it.
Because very few people I've met are naturally rude or mean. At some point they might have had a bad experience that's causing them to have a bad day. Or a bad year. A bad life.
We rarely meet someone who hasn't suffered at some point - maybe that day. Perhaps a death or illness in their family. Or they lost a job or a business. They may be sick themselves. We don't know.
I've found that it disarms the rude and unkind when my response is kindness and politeness. When people aren't feeling good about their lives it often shows in their behavior.
That's why a little kindness from us can be an example of a better way to live.
Click here to email John
