Aug 24, 2007

#34: Be Nice to Someone Naughty (Friday, August 24)

The world is a big place, and inevitably you'll meet people whose personalities don't mesh well with yours. It happens. I have someone who falls into that category: a coworker at my new job. But even the people you don't get along with can help to make you a better person.

The Idea: Do something nice for someone you don't like/get along with. Whether it's giving the person a little token, taking them out for a meal, or even just offering them a genuine compliment, take the first step.

The Cost: The cost of whatever nice thing you decide to do.

The Benefit: You may discover that your initial personality conflicts were just misunderstandings. Or you may still not get along, but might have a clearer understanding of the individual's personality and be better able to manage your relationship with them. Either way, it takes a big person to try to repair a damaged relationship, and you'll be a better person for it. Remember, a little kindness goes a long way.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You know, this is one of the hardest things to do. It's a great truth that it will go a long way but it is so hard to get over your own prejudicial thoughts.

Good one as usual.