Daily Question, November 21 What would change if I assumed the absolute best about everyone I meet? 21 Reflections Share Click here to cancel reply.Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment. Notify me when someone replies to my comment via e-mail. Malag3 months agoMalagI expect that would be a very unwise course of action with plenty of opportunity for disillusionment. Better to be realistic that people are human and not always at their best; although often they are. 1 Reply Hilary Oleta3 months agoHilary OletaIf I assumed the best from everyone I met, I would be less defensive and protective of myself. I would spend less time worrying about what they could do to me and more time appreciating who they are and what they are doing. I am afraid to do this because I could be hurt by them. I want to protect myself from those who I fear could hurt me. I need to re-evaluate my feelings for people, find ways to forgive them, and have trusted others to help me evaluate how cautious I am needing to be. If my co...If I assumed the best from everyone I met, I would be less defensive and protective of myself. I would spend less time worrying about what they could do to me and more time appreciating who they are and what they are doing. I am afraid to do this because I could be hurt by them. I want to protect myself from those who I fear could hurt me. I need to re-evaluate my feelings for people, find ways to forgive them, and have trusted others to help me evaluate how cautious I am needing to be. If my concerns are valid, then I will continue to be cautious, but otherwise I will learn to assume the best from them and give them the opportunity to be their best. Read More3 Reply Lauryn3 months agoLaurynI would stop seeing relationships and situations as temporary. I would have more self confidence and feel a sense of comfort. I would stop looking for ways to escape or remove myself from situations. I would relax more. That’s ideal though, and not reality…as I’m far too skeptical of other people’s motives to adopt this thought process. 4 Reply Journey3 months agoJourneyI find this very challenging. It is so easy to judge people based on their negative aspects and not see them in their totality. Everyone has good and bad and I am trying to change how I see people and focus on the parts of them that are good and not the parts that are not good. I keep reminding myself that their negative traits are between them and their conscience. It is easier said than done as I find my mind drifting to the things I don’t like about them rather than what I do like. I feel a...I find this very challenging. It is so easy to judge people based on their negative aspects and not see them in their totality. Everyone has good and bad and I am trying to change how I see people and focus on the parts of them that are good and not the parts that are not good. I keep reminding myself that their negative traits are between them and their conscience. It is easier said than done as I find my mind drifting to the things I don’t like about them rather than what I do like. I feel ashamed of it. Read More5 Reply Hot Sauce3 months agoHot SauceI think I would be a much kinder person if I assumed the best about everyone. It's hard to do because part of us is wired to commit the fundamental attribution error (thinking that people who do good things do it because of their circumstances, while thinking they do bad things because they are bad people, while thinking I do good things because I'm good, and I do bad things because of my circumstances). Martin Luther, in his explanation of the eighth commandment, says that we should take people...I think I would be a much kinder person if I assumed the best about everyone. It’s hard to do because part of us is wired to commit the fundamental attribution error (thinking that people who do good things do it because of their circumstances, while thinking they do bad things because they are bad people, while thinking I do good things because I’m good, and I do bad things because of my circumstances). Martin Luther, in his explanation of the eighth commandment, says that we should take people’s “words and actions in the kindest possible way.” This is an interpretation of Torah that challenges me to assume the best intentions in everyone. Read More7 Reply Don Jones3 months agoDon JonesThe practical difference it would make to our relationships is immense and cumulative: in fact what it comes to is that we aren’t related in any way to anyone: we are that one. In contrast to the self-regarding and sentimental and very choosy love (so-called) much cultivated on Earth, this is the true love of Heaven, and it is love of all. 5 Reply Serafinina3 months agoSerafininaDespite I ended up getting hurt several times, I still want to look at the good side of people. I want to give the benefit of the doubt because at the end of the day we humans make mistakes. I am not excluded. So I would like to think that people can be bigger people by acknowledging the bad side of people and have a safe relationship with friends to not get hurt. At the end of the day, there were good reasons that made me build a rapport with these people. Quite not sure about the concept of t...Despite I ended up getting hurt several times, I still want to look at the good side of people. I want to give the benefit of the doubt because at the end of the day we humans make mistakes. I am not excluded. So I would like to think that people can be bigger people by acknowledging the bad side of people and have a safe relationship with friends to not get hurt. At the end of the day, there were good reasons that made me build a rapport with these people. Quite not sure about the concept of the absolute best though. Read More4 Reply Javier Visionquest3 months agoJavier VisionquestMy job isn’t merely to hustle groceries, on and off the shelves and out to people’s cars. What I actually do is to serve the myriad faces of God. My interpretation of the story of Jesus is, itself, a parable of how an average human (yes, average) sacrificed his ego only to discover his own divinity, the Christ within. My suspicion is that the bible has been heavily edited throughout its history in the interest of placing that power beyond the reach of the average person and keep us focused ...My job isn’t merely to hustle groceries, on and off the shelves and out to people’s cars. What I actually do is to serve the myriad faces of God. My interpretation of the story of Jesus is, itself, a parable of how an average human (yes, average) sacrificed his ego only to discover his own divinity, the Christ within. My suspicion is that the bible has been heavily edited throughout its history in the interest of placing that power beyond the reach of the average person and keep us focused on external salvation. . . stealing candy from babies. What if the Christ were revealed in the mirrors of average people everyday and, yet, we seldom recognize or give proper credence to our own divinity? Read More4 Reply Antoinette3 months agoAntoinetteI do look at people by their true potential. Everyone has what we could call Buddha potential or a perfect light. We can’t destroy our potential it’s always there with us and we just need to come back to the present moment and shine out of our hearts center. Not always easy when we have afflicted emotions but, regardless our fully awakened potential can never be damaged or taken away. This is a reason to be joyful! 6 Reply Linda3 months agoLindaHonestly, I think it is naive to think everyone is a good person and will not harm us. Just look at our awful political situation today. 3 Reply DeVonna3 months agoDeVonnaI’m afraid life has taught me to be cautious. I don’t assume the worst about people, but on the other hand I would find it hard to assume the absolute best as well. As Carol has already mentioned, I keep an open mind. 4 Reply Odalie3 months agoOdalieChristian faith teaches me that everyone is born inherently good. My experience teaches me that human experience with power that controls and greed can kill that seed of goodness in each one of us. Believing in the absolute best about everyone, triggers that birthright of inherent goodness every creature possesses. 5 Reply Zenith3 months agoZenithThis is a circumstantial question. I rarely see total strangers anymore due to the virus. I haven't left town in over a year. It is hard to believe the best about someone whose habits negatively impact me on a regular basis. The best I can do is notice my thoughts and distract myself to something pleasant. And in response to the daily word about joy. Joy is a miracle that hits us when least expected. I last felt it after a short jog a few days ago. I always wonder why people deprive themselves o...This is a circumstantial question. I rarely see total strangers anymore due to the virus. I haven’t left town in over a year. It is hard to believe the best about someone whose habits negatively impact me on a regular basis. The best I can do is notice my thoughts and distract myself to something pleasant. And in response to the daily word about joy. Joy is a miracle that hits us when least expected. I last felt it after a short jog a few days ago. I always wonder why people deprive themselves of the euphoria resulting from exercise. It is a miracle. Read More4 Reply Carol3 months agoCarolNot sure I believe in absolutes! I do, however, attempt to keep an open mind. 5 Reply Javier Visionquest3 months agoJavier VisionquestEach of us is a character in this collaborative dreamscape, here to learn and to teach, to add our chapter as an author of our collective drama, either as a protagonist or antagonist, and shape the “world” as we know it. Sometimes another’s absolute best is their capacity for indifference, malice, or evil. My assumption for us all would be that, regardless of the role we play, that we have the potential to become more conscious and aware of how our presence impacts the experience of others...Each of us is a character in this collaborative dreamscape, here to learn and to teach, to add our chapter as an author of our collective drama, either as a protagonist or antagonist, and shape the “world” as we know it. Sometimes another’s absolute best is their capacity for indifference, malice, or evil. My assumption for us all would be that, regardless of the role we play, that we have the potential to become more conscious and aware of how our presence impacts the experience of others. Read More6 Reply devy3 months agodevyI believe that one must be careful about assuming that everyone is good, that everyone is kind or loving. But at the same time I believe that everyone has some good in them. What we see, what we hear or read is not always a true indicator of a person. We don’t know their whole life story, what’s in their thoughts or minds or what they are presently going Through. Perhaps they have issues that they are dealing with themselves. Humans are born into this world as innocent. It is outside forces ...I believe that one must be careful about assuming that everyone is good, that everyone is kind or loving. But at the same time I believe that everyone has some good in them. What we see, what we hear or read is not always a true indicator of a person. We don’t know their whole life story, what’s in their thoughts or minds or what they are presently going Through. Perhaps they have issues that they are dealing with themselves. Humans are born into this world as innocent. It is outside forces that shape them. We cannot always see the good things people do for others, their families or loved ones or what involvement they have contributed to their communities. If we assume that everyone has some good in them no matter what amount, then we stop judging them based solely on negativity. This stops our own feelings of hate, despair, anxiety or depression. We Focus more on joy, acceptance of life realizing that we are human..no one is perfect Read More7 Reply Trish3 months agoTrishI would be free from all kinds of nonsense stories in my head. There would simply be a well of positivity that generates more positivity. My connections with others would be deeper & I would see everyone as magnificent creatures. That’s beautiful 💚 6 Reply Kevin3 months agoKevinHonestly, I try to do that all the time, actually. So I can’t expect a lot to change because I am already doing it. That said, there may be occasions when I have an opportunity to interact with people I have never met before and when that happens it tends to make one’s day. 4 Reply Michele3 months agoMicheleI think assuming the absolute best about everyone leads one down the wrong path – no one is perfect, you have to earn trust, and people disappoint people. It’s a set up for disaster. There’s a reason you’re supposed to trust your gut instinct. 6 Reply sunnypatti3 months agosunnypattiLess judgment. Less expectations. More love, understanding, and compassion. I honestly try to see the best in everyone always, so this is a daily practice! 7 Reply 1 2 Next » My Private Gratitude Journal Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal Get Started This site is brought to you by A Network for Grateful Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are fully tax deductible in the U.S.A. DONATE https://gratefulness.org/content/uploads/2015/03/GX-Gold-Participant-L.png Community Engagement Guidelines Privacy Policy [email protected] Connect with us on Social Media: © 2000 - 2021, A Network for Grateful Living Website by Briteweb
