What’s the first thing you think of when you see a stranger?
How about your competition?
Or, the jerk that just cut you off in his Porsche?
What’s your default setting when it comes to others?
How critical are you?
How many stories have you made up about that stranger—stories that only you hear—based on nothing more than appearance?
It’s easy to be critical. It’s easy to look for the worst, and even easier to find it. Defaulting to fear and distrust is the safest play.
What if you defaulted to wishing others well? Even strangers?
What if the stories you tell in your head give that stranger the benefit of the doubt?
What if you looked for the best, instead of the worst?
What if you had no opinion about that guy who just cut you off?
What would happen if you helped your competitor improve?
Starting with a mindset of wishing well, looking to give instead of take, understanding rather than responding, reveals our best self.
Our best self hides behind walls of criticism, doubt, distrust, fear, and ill will.
Take away its hiding places and get to know your best self…default to wishing well.
Photo Credit: Unsplash–Brandi Redd
Grandpa Bob Encouraging Leadership 