Teaching the Worst Student
When I encounter a situation or a decision that I don’t like, I try to express my feelings in terms of how I would like to improve myself…
When I encounter a situation or a decision that I don’t like, I try to express my feelings in terms of how I would like to improve myself, rather than criticizing someone else.
For example: “MY goal is to find a place to park that is both convenient for me AND courteous to others.” You may find your teeth clenching a little bit as you process this approach. That is normal.
In situations like these, I have noticed that more colorful ways to describe the choices made by others will often spring to mind. Sometimes I may feel inspired to compare another person to a farm animal, or an inanimate object, or I may find myself wishing on the person some calamity or a bitter humiliation.
Instead of thinking the worst, I want instead to assume the best of others, because I believe that any other person is good enough right as they are.
At best they probably won’t be improved by my… insightful observations. And my children won’t be improved by hearing me say them out loud.
Better to put that energy where it can be put to good use — by improving myself. There’s plenty of work to do.