“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”
I’m often amazed at how socially inept we as a society truly are.
Be it at work or in our personal relationships, far too many of us simply have no idea how to communicate effectively with each other in a respectful and constructive manner.
The problem, as I see it, is that much of society is searching, longing for acceptance.
Caused by an increasingly complicated and competitive society, those who are struggling with their own perception of themselves are often burdened with insecurity and anxiety.
It’s that insecurity which breeds a need to feel superior and dominant over others – all in an effort to combat the growing self-doubt we harbor inside.
This is NOT a good place to be.
- It prevents us from forming and maintaining positive relationships – both personally and professionally.
- It reduces friends to enemies when our insecurities cause us to make rash assumptions that often are incorrect.
- It devalues our credibility and character when we “make up stories” in order to unscrupulously gain allies.
- It brands us as a “trouble maker” rather than a person of integrity and talent.
The individuals I describe above are not “bad” people at all. They’re just misguided and unable to understand there are better, more positive ways to communicate feelings, ideas and beliefs without alienating those around you.
I have a great deal of respect for those who recognize their issues and make a conscious decision to help remedy them for the better. However, I hold incredible contempt for those who use their social inability as an excuse for their inappropriate and damaging behavior towards others.
Miguel Ruiz once wrote, “Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama.”
Everyone at one point in life has been riddled with insecurities. However, it’s important to understand where they’re coming from so you can deal with them as a responsible adult.
Don’t let them be the reason why relationships are impossible to sustain in every facet of your life.
