Seeking to Please
For purposes of this posting, let’s presume that most people prefer to be liked, accepted, or, at least, tolerated. That begs the question, “By whom?” Who is the person or persons who determine your worth?: family? friends? neighbors? co-workers? Do you believe that all the valued ones want to see the same attitudes and behaviors from you? When their expectations conflict, which, if any, members of the multitude exert the greatest influence? Where are you, yourself, in the “how to be” equation? When you realize that someone or some group expects you to exhibit a particular attitude or behavior, do you start with them or start with you? What parameters do you apply when attempting to reach your conclusion? Equally important, what parameters do you ultimately apply when acting upon your decision? If your decision and/ or action is contrary to expectations of valued others, do you explicitly address the discrepancy or not? Of...