Treat others as they wish to be treated

Kyle Taylor
Jul 25, 2017 · 1 min read

There’s a common bit of parental “wisdom” a number of us are given in childhood: treat others as you wish to be treated. It’s meant to inspire us to be better people but, deep down, it’s a selfish proposition.

It tells us to look inward at our own wants and needs then project those onto the world. Then, when we do treat others as we want to be treated and don’t get a positive response we get angry, irritated and judgmental. “How rude of person so and so. I was so x, y and z and they didn’t appreciate it.”

This is simultaneously happening in reverse — people you’re interacting with are treating you how they want to be treated and, when you don’t intrinsically, magically, without knowing they’re doing something they want done to them just know, they get equally angry, irritated or judgmental.

Let’s simply this vicious circle.

Have a dialogue, understand other’s wants and needs then respond accordingly. Doesn’t that sound nice, always being treated how you would like to be treated?

Kyle Taylor
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