Do unto others

There are times when we encounter people who just seem to rub us the wrong way. There is some particular behavior that we find to be irritating. Perhaps they are constantly interrupting or want to control everything around them. I always have a choice in how I deal with this. I can ignore it, minimize my contact with that person, or discuss it with them. I can also step back and ask myself to imagine this person at a point in his or her life when, either consciously or unconsciously, this behavior was seen as important to get through a situation. Perhaps interrupting was the only way this person had to be heard or that control over life seemed almost nonexistent. When I can put myself in another person's shoes, I can begin to see them in a different light. Then I become more compassionate and understanding since that is what I would want from others under similar circumstances. It takes some effort on our part, and the time it takes can help us in our own journey toward learning how to love others unconditionally. Who in your life is behaving in a way that calls for stepping back and deciding to treat the situation with love and compassion?