At work, I am seldom a pleasant person to be around. I often take on an elitist superior attitude and speak condescendingly. When folks ask me for help, I don't fail to remind them if they had followed my suggestion from earlier, they wouldn't need my help now.
I also spend a fair amount of my time in self-introspection thinking about the days events - what I said, what I did, but more importantly - why.
I find it very easy to call myself a Christian but I don't find it very easy to be a Christian.
As a result, I decided to have 1 day a month complaint free. No matter how large my frustration, no matter how painfully obvious a situation is - I will try not to complain. I will try not to raise my voice. I will try not to ridicule. I will try not to offend.
This really is something that I want to do everyday but I am starting with baby steps.
"Elwood," my mother used to say to me -- she always called me Elwood. "Elwood, in this life you must be oh-so-smart or oh-so-pleasant. For a long time, I was smart. I recommend pleasant."
Re:good luck!
cbrandtbuffalo on 2007-08-20T16:02:18
I find that just watching Harvey with James Stewart makes me want to be the most pleasant person I know. (That is where quote comes from, right?) It's sort of a tutorial for being a nice person to be around.Re:good luck!
rjbs on 2007-08-20T16:37:19
That's the quote, indeed. I find that being pleasant is, almost always, very easy once you get used to it. It's also very enjoyable. I do my best to get along with everyone, and every year that seems to get a little easier.
