Thursday, January 17, 2019

Behind the mask

Reach through the awkwardness. Reach through the rudeness, the anger, the fear, and find the person behind those things.

Behind the mask is a genuine, beautiful person. Behind the mask is a lifetime filled with feelings, with hope, with dreams.

When someone is unpleasant to you, remind yourself that the unpleasantness is mostly a mask. There’s a real person hiding in there, someone who would treasure the opportunity to treat you better.

See if you can draw that genuine person out. Instead of putting on your own mask of being insulted, seek to make a positive human connection.

Even if the other person’s attitude or behavior doesn’t improve, you’ll change the situation for the better. Because your own outlook will improve, you’ll be more patient, more understanding, less stressed.

Reach behind the mask, even if the person behind the mask doesn’t reach back. Offer authenticity, empathy, understanding, and no matter the response, the world will be a better place.

— Ralph Marston

Necessary steps       

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