They may not really hate you, you might just perceive that they hate you. Maybe their actions towards you were misunderstood by you and could be because of something you unknowingly did to them. They might just as well be going through some kind of hell themselves.

How would you use the golden rule in this kind of situation? It’s so simple. Put yourself in their situation and do to them what you would want them to do to you. Go and talk to them. Find out how they are doing. You never know what the other people are going through. You don’t know their circumstances. Begin to care more for their welfare and benefit than you do about your own. This is the type of world we need to live in. It needs to start with us.
Here is a story that illustrates these concepts.

I knew a lady that for years received a cold and very hard interaction with someone she use to work with. This lady could not figure out what was wrong. Finally, just recently at a public meeting, she saw this person there. The person would not make eye contact and avoided her just like she had done for years. The lady took the bold opportunity to walk up to this person and confront her eye to eye. She apologized for anything she may have done to cause this person grief. She told her that she would never have intentionally hurt her and if she did she was so sorry and asked her forgiveness. The person, for the first time in years, warmed right up, and by the end of their conversation, this person hugged the lady and said, “I’m sorry, too”.

This lady was not looking for an apology, only for peace of mind for something she may have done unknowingly. She felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders even though she still didn’t know the cause for such behavior. She realized at that time that it doesn’t matter how others treat you, only that you treat others with love and kindness and you will never regret it. The feelings of treating others kindly, especially when it is not reciprocated, is what living the golden rule is all about.

Life’s Golden Rule
Editorial Staff