What light do you throw?

Whenever I look on a busy street and see people passing, going about their regular business, I try to imagine what they are thinking. They are probably thinking about their work, family, favorite sport, friends, personal progress, how to make ends meet or even how to survive. People are preoccupied with the ups and downs of life. Although there are some that are busy working on evil schemes, most people are inherently seeking good things, just minding their own business, and trying to make life work. Yet we are generally inclined to think less of others, either seeing them on the other side of the societal divide or making unproven assumptions about who they are.

What and how we think about others matters. We usually get what we expect. Our perception of others is determined mostly by the way we think. Most times we conclude who people are before we even meet them. It is not so much about what others do or where they come from. It is more about how we think about what they do and who they are. We let our minds take the shortcut of tricking us to assume people are who they are not, instead of trying to know them better. Don’t we see people the way we want to see them? We need to do better. We need to start seeing others in a better light.
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Here is where I am going. It is better to expect good things from those around us, because we get what we expect. If you expect good things from someone you will probably find good things from them. The converse is also true. If you expect less or expect bad things from those around you, you will always see bad things in them. It may not even matter how much good they do; you will focus on the bad side instead. The light you throw on people determines how you see them. What light do you throw on others?

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​Actions for the week

1. It is time for personal evaluation. What light do you throw on other people? Examine yourself to see if you are inclined to make assumptions about others.
2. Practice the art of expecting good things from those around you. You may focus on members of your household or your work team.
3. How about yourself? Start developing a self-concept that supports your personal achievement. Expect good things from yourself.

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A quote to remember
“Persons appear to us according to the light we throw upon them from our own minds.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder

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Until another time,
Dele Ola, Award-Winning Author of Be A Change Agent
​Click HERE to learn about and get copies of Dele’s Books