Assuming
I was reminded the other day that some people are ignorant. I got a call from someone who proceeded to tell me how I needed to behave in a situation and cast disparaging remarks about my character…without getting their facts straight. Never once did they ask my side of it. They assumed they had the story correct and were ready to let me know that I was a big disappointment.
Some people have the attitude: “Don’t confuse me with the facts.” The funny part about this story is that I shared it with my wife and told her that when the facts came to light, it would not matter with this person because they were not about to apologize. They would have to admit they were wrong. I was right.
Good Lord, help me be the bigger person with people like this. It is a good thing that I have a sense of humor. Some people would get into a spitting contest and that never turns out well for anyone. Everybody gets soiled.
Here are the takeaways:
- Get all the facts before you decide someone is guilty of something or not. There are a lot of people who are sitting in prison right now because all of the facts did not come out in their case before judgement was declared.
- If someone attacks you verbally, consider the source. Dr. Phil says: “When someone shows you who they are, believe it.” Don’t make excuses for their bad behavior. You should have appropriate boundaries between the two of you for your own safety and sanity. You don’t need more drama in your life, do you? You may have to love them from a distance.
- Someone needs to be the adult and it might as well be you. Don’t allow the childish behavior of someone else cause you to lower yourself to their level. Take the high road and you will not have to look back with regret at things you said or did. It may require more effort up front, but it is a lot easier to come down from the high road vs the road that has been destroyed.
Shalom!
Dan Skognes