In Matthew 7:12, Jesus states in scripture, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, for this is the Law and the Prophets, in everything.” The origin of the term golden rule apparently dates back to Anglican Theologians coining it in the 17th century.
The golden rule of living a happy life is this adage. There’s more to this rule than just being nice to people. The meaning of this idiom is magically more about the impact and effect you will have on others if you think of them in the same way that you want to be thought of and feel about them in the same way that you want others to feel about you.
It’s a great way to build strong connections while improving yourself to be a better person and to learn to treat others how you want to be treated. How frequently do you behave in a disrespectful, hostile, and toxic manner toward other people? Even if you weren’t doing it on purpose, there’s a chance that you were causing a negative spiral in your immediate vicinity. What were the effects? More stress, more negativity, more fights, and misunderstandings… Learn to treat others the way you would like to be treated in order to change this.
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How Do I Want to Be Treated by Others?
There’s a good chance that you already know how you want to be treated. You can start by considering the things other people do that you find to be admirable. What do you enjoy receiving from others?
However, there are many other traits that we look for and expect in people generally. Perhaps respect is one of the main traits we look for in others.
Respect can be summed up as giving others’ feelings, desires, rights, or cultural practices due consideration. Having respect for those around you is a major factor in overall happiness, according to a study published by the Association for Psychological Science.
Additionally, a study by Psychology Today found that treating others with respect made it more likely that we would be treated similarly in return.
Receiving kindness is yet another way that many of us want to be treated. Since kindness can actually improve our mood, it’s beneficial for everyone, according to scientific research. If more people were kind to one another, there would probably be less suffering in this world.
There are numerous other ways we want to be treated well. Writing down the kind of treatment you’d prefer from others might be a useful exercise. You can try to hold yourself to the same standard as the people you allow into your life in addition to others.
What Does It Mean to Treat Others Well?
Giving gifts or showering people with material goods does not constitute good treatment of others; rather, it involves assisting them in realizing their own inner wealth. Even though each of us has the resources and capacity to accomplish great things, not all of us are able to recognize them.
Sometimes, we need someone who acts as a “mirror” and who reveals the good in us. Stopping to judge people by their outward appearance leaves no lasting impression and, on the contrary, runs the risk of legitimizing their harmful behavior.
On the other hand, focusing on what is good in others encourages them to become aware of it, recognize it, and use it in their interactions with others.
With those around you or when making new friends, you can immediately experience it. Discover their interests by becoming curious about their daily activities. When they find someone genuinely interested in them, people like to talk about themselves. They are eager to welcome others because they feel welcome.
Smile at them and do them a good deed. Congratulate them and exhort them to give their best. Speak well of them as if you were a “sponsor” who does good publicity for the qualities they possess.
Celebrate someone when you think there is cause to, whether it’s for a significant accomplishment or something smaller. How often have you needed the encouragement of friends or family to feel more confident in your skills? To encourage others as they develop their gifts, offer them this lovely gesture.
The only prerequisite is that he does it honestly; he must not lie intentionally or do it to make others look good. People can tell when you haven’t given something much thought because they sense it, they don’t trust it, and you won’t feel satisfied or seen.
Why People Say”Treat Others the Way They Want to Be Treated”
While conducting my research for this article, I came across viewpoints that claimed we shouldn’t treat others as we would like to be treated. people should be treated in a way that they would prefer to be treated, not the other way around.
According to one author, treating others how we would like to be treated is the same as imposing our own beliefs on them. That would be contrary to the golden rule, they decided.
But one might ponder whether anyone wants others to force their opinions on them. Maybe the majority of people would answer negatively. I’ve never met anyone who liked it when people forced their own way of life on them, at least not in my life.
Therefore, the principle of treating others as we would like to be treated would entail respecting others’ differences in the same manner that we would like others to do.
Our aim would be to make accommodations to the greatest extent possible if another culture has different values and conceptions of what it means to be respected and treated well.
Nine Important Principles to Treat Others
The best place to look if you want to know how people treat you is at how you treat them.
There is only one thing you can do if you don’t like how you’re being treated, and that is to alter your own behavior, as you are powerless to alter anyone else’s.
In the same way that a mirror reflects change, relationships do the same, and eventually how you are treated will be reflected back.
Here are nine important principles to remember about how to treat others:
1. Stand by them and aid them in constructing their futures rather than passing judgment on them based on their past. Everyone has a past, some of which is something to be proud of, while others are better left in the past. Nevertheless, people do change and develop, regardless of their past, so rather than passing judgment, be there for them and help them as they move forward. Embark on your own journey while showing them respect.
2. Talk openly, act honestly, and listen intently. Relationships can succeed by listening and being curious. Speaking the truth enables others to be truthful with you and with themselves, and acting honorably upholds standards in interpersonal relationships. Curiosity, candor, and integrity are necessary for relationships to develop and endure.
3. Be kind to everyone, not because they are nice people, but because you are. Kindness is one of the best gifts we can give to others. Give a helping hand to someone if you can. Do it for everyone, not just those you like and respect—that’s simple—but also those who irritate you and those you don’t even know. Giving without expecting anything in return is what defines true kindness.
4. Don’t attempt to elevate yourself by diminishing someone else. You first demonstrate your lack of power when you believe it is acceptable to denigrate others on the grounds that you are superior to them. People frequently cause others to experience their own feelings, no matter how positive or negative they may be. Do everything in your power not to hurt or make them feel small if you are unable to provide assistance, support, or love. Honor everyone you come in contact with.
5. Always keep in mind that everyone has a story. Remember that behavior doesn’t occur in a vacuum; it may be a result of something they’ve experienced in the past or something they’re currently dealing with. Everyone struggles with issues and internal conflicts. Refrain from passing judgment and instead show others the respect you would like to be shown.
6. No one happens to cross our paths by chance. Every person you meet will play some kind of part in your life, no matter how small. Some will spur you on to improve, while others will hurt you. You are also involved in their lives in some way at the same time. Recognize the significance of every person and remember that everything happens for a reason.
7. The best teachers are those who show you the way rather than instructing you on how to get there. There is no greater joy than assisting others in realizing a vision for themselves and witnessing them achieve heights beyond what they could have ever imagined on their own. But that doesn’t mean you have to fix them or give them what they want; instead, help them find the source of their own strength. Encourage and support them as they make their own way and demonstrate your respect for them. You only need to have faith in them.
8. Never look down on someone unless you are trying to lift them up. It’s simple to belittle someone who isn’t as successful, talented, or intelligent as you are because we like to believe that life is a meritocracy. But you have no idea where that person will end up or how high they have already climbed. Be sure to treat everyone with dignity because time has a way of reversing your positions.
9. Take time to thank those who have helped you, let those who have wounded you go, and lend a hand to those in need. It’s challenging to be a leader because life, business, and both are complex. You can’t go wrong if you treat everyone with love and compassion, including yourself.
Living by the golden rule will make your life much better right away.
Why is It Important?
The benefit of treating others well is that it enables us to treat others as we would like to be treated. Many times, those who harm others have also been victimized. They have no desire to be good to anyone but themselves because of those negative things.
When they are not respected, people can struggle to be polite. When kindness is not extended to them, people may not care to be kind.
The law of reciprocity is an underlying psychological theory. The underlying tenet of this belief is that when we show kindness to others, they are more likely to show kindness to us. According to some studies, people may even perform kinder deeds in return than what they initially offered.
Many positive changes might be made if we keep this concept of how we treat people in mind. The beginning is with us, though. Treat people with respect by doing your part.
Even if you don’t receive the same treatment, you can still have a small impact on how others are treated by others. Because of this, we can all motivate one another to do better, which will hopefully improve the entire world.
Conclusion: Give It a Try
A life-changing philosophy that can enable you to seek out the best in people while promoting positivity all around is treating others well and according to how you would like to be treated. At the same time, you’ll discover the skills and abilities you already possess and experience mental and emotional well-being. How gorgeous is that? You won’t regret giving it a try, So, do it!