The phrase "you can only give what you have" struck home for me. I used to get really annoyed and impatient with poor service or with bad driving or poor governance. I used to have an expectation of others, that everyone should be striving at least to do a good job, to respect others or get better; but I realised that if no one told you how, why would you?
I grew up in a home where I was taught a certain set of rules, manners, a way of doing things, to be nice, to work hard, to enjoy life, to be kind, to study, not to be lazy etc. This 'education' that I have, was given to me, it was not by choice. I was born into it. It wasn't formal either, thats was just the way things were done; the way I was treated, the expectation that was put on me by my parents, family and friends. This is my world view, and it was given to me. It is what I know to be true.
Everyone grew up with their own 'education'. Everyone is given a portion they have no control over. No one chooses what family they get born into and under what circumstances. Your world view, is what's real for you. Anything else is different and distant to what you know.
Naturally, we measure others the way we measure ourselves, and when that driver drives 'differently' to you, or that customer service disappoints you, it affects you because of the world view given to you. I find this in any area of my life where I make contact with people. A different world view meets mine, and frustration sets in. The word 'respect' for instance, can have a different meaning to another.
I am not talking about right or wrong. I am just saying people give what they have. What more can they give?
Knowing this has helped me. I've found that I'm much more patient, relaxed and tolerant towards the usual culprits on the road or on the phone. I apply this to every situation where people frustrate me. I just say to myself "This person doesn't know how to respect, how to drive, how to listen because he wasn't shown how". He does not even know that he is frustrating me. He is simply being himself.
Does life not become less frustrating, knowing that people can only give what they've been given?
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