UNDERSTANDING IS THE FIRST STEP TO ACCEPTANCE

“Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery.”

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

TREAT PEOPLE LIKE PEOPLE

Treat People Like People

Empathy makes you a better communicator. Empathy makes you a better person.

Your perspective has value, but it is not the only perspective. Always take the other person’s point of view into consideration.

Don’t assume just because you know it, think it, feel it, that everyone else does too. Nothing ever entitles you to be rude, arrogant, or inconsiderate.

Empathy helps you understand, understanding helps you relate, and positive relationships facilitate real progress. It’s always better to work with others than to work against them.

Empathize, understand, find common ground and common objectives. Remind yourself that the way to get what you want is to help others get what they want.

Whether you’re dealing with a customer, customer service rep, family member or stranger, empathy works wonders. Treat people like people, the way you want to be treated, and they’ll almost always return the favor.

— Ralph Marston

PEACE IN THE MIDST OF CONFLICT

Peace in the midst of Conflict

To be peaceful in the midst of conflict,
you must create respect
for everyone’s ideas and experiences.

That creates emotional and physical safety
so that people know that they won’t be attacked
when they express themselves honestly.

When people are committed
to equality and mutual respect
disagreements do not result in separation,

but in dialogue and increased understanding.

From Everyday Wisdom by Paul Ferrini
www.paulferrini.com

COMMUNICATION IS A BRIDGE

Communication is a Bridge

When attack happens and separation occurs,
you can bridge it only by communicating
in a non-hostile way.

That is hard to do when you are triggered.
Usually you need to take the time
to understand and own the trigger
before you can make peace with the person
who triggered you.

From Everyday Wisdom by Paul Ferrini
www.paulferrini.com

LIVE TO LOVE

Live To Love

Love as though there is no other purpose. Live always aware that every life matters.

Encourage and support excellence but don’t demand perfection. Every person falls short of perfect, giving life endless paths for improvement.

Let joy flow from your own life as you encourage and support the unique lives of others. Find strength in the values you treasure, while understanding that every life journey is unique.

Offer kindness along with a meaningful challenge. Earn respect with your beneficial actions and let your respect be similarly earned and confirmed.

Be so strong in your convictions that you do not have to force them on others. Be so filled with confidence and love that fear has no place to take hold.

Life is within you and reaches far beyond you. Live to love and support it all.


— Ralph Marston

ONE DAY AT A TIME

One Day At A Time

Harbor no resentment toward yourself or others for poor choices already made. Learn from those choices and their consequences, and move forward with compassion.

Resentment produces nothing good. Yet well-informed compassion will inject new goodness throughout life.

People do foolish things, including you. Let it be, let it teach you, let it make you more loving and understanding.

Feeling superior will not make you feel particularly good. Knowing you are making a positive difference is what brings a genuine, lasting good feeling.

Seek to guide yourself and others toward positive, empowering choices. Grow stronger, with gratitude for all you’ve seen and experienced, and with love for all of life.

Today’s choices enable you, and those around you, to improve on yesterday’s choices. One day at a time, focus on the good that’s possible and do your best to make it be.

— Ralph Marston