#906 Hanging out with Confucius

Learning from the Good and the Bad

A few +1s ago, we posed the question: “How is this making me stronger?

Specifically: How is this challenge I’m facing Today making me stronger?

(Well, how is it?!)

In the context of interpersonal challenges, there are a lot of tools we can use. Some of my favorites include Active Love and modified versions of Dust and The Pearl.

We might also want to remember Confucius’ wisdom.

In his Analects, he tells us: “The Master said, In the presence of a good man, think all the time how you may learn to equal him. In the presence of a bad man, turn your gaze within!

He echoes that wisdom another way as well: “The Master said, Even when walking in a party of no more than three I can always be certain of learning from those I am with. There will be good qualities that I can select for imitation and bad ones that will teach me what requires correction in myself.

That’s Today’s +1.

Let’s learn from those with whom we interact Today.

Let’s emulate the good qualities.

And let’s shine a bright spotlight on the “bad” qualities WITHIN OURSELVES that we want to Optimize.

That’s one (little) way a challenging interpersonal situation can make us stronger.

Reminding ourselves of who we DON’T want to be as we get back to work polishing off our own rough edges.

-1 -1 -1 for another +1 +1 +1 win!

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