Treat Others as You Want Them To Treat You

How well you relate to others is very important, because much of your success and happiness depends on it.
Christ gave the perfect rule for human relations, and for personal conduct. We call it the Golden Rule, a name it got somewhere around the 17th century.
Near the the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Christ summed up a series of sayings or profound thoughts on human conduct by saying, "Treat others as you want them to treat you."
This statement is the most remembered and most quoted one that Christ ever made.
Books are written about it.
Lectures given to expound on its meaning.
But the depths of its wisdom have never been fully probed, and never will be. It is profound beyond all human explanations. Yet, like so many divine laws, it appears very simple at first glance. See Luke, 6: 27-30

With these thoughts in mind, ask yourself how you want others to treat you.

Five things we want from others:
1. we want encouragement.
2. We want appreciation.
3. We want forgiveness.
4. We want attention.
5. We want understanding.

Encouragement:

Encouragement helps us to reach our goals more easily. It helps us to focus on our strenghts. It helps us to overcome weaknesses. When we give it to others, they are drawn closer to us. When we withhold it, we alienate them from us.
We all want encouragement, so we need to give it to others. By doing so, we practice the golden rule.
Look back at the times when someone encouraged you or praised you and caused your self- concept to grow. It formed new goals for you. It sold you on yourself and made certain accomplishments seem more possible.

Appreciation:

The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.
How much do you want to be appreciated?
How much do you want to be recognized?
How much?
The need for recognition is a powerful motivator. Its probably stronger than your need for money or material gain.
We all go through life silently screaming, "Notice me! Notice me!"Just stop and think how many of your actions result from this strong drive.
When properly handled, it becomes a very creative drive. The drive that causes many to excel-to become successful in business, teaching, athletics, housewives, writers and many other things.
We all want to be recognized and appreciated.
When you show appreciation to others, you show belief in them.

Forgiveness:

The kind of faith that brings peace of mind, confidence, and a feeling of well being must also be accompanied by a spirit of forgiveness.
Forgiveness is the very essence of the Golden Rule, its involved in almost every application of this great law.
Christ said: "Love your enemies! Pray for them!"
How difficult is it for you to love someone who doesn't love you? Can you think of anything so opposite to human nature? But, Christ said, "I'll show you a more perfect way."
Remember; To condemn is human, to forgive is devine.

Attention:

We are not always good listeners
We all have a psychological need for others to listen to us. This attention is very therepeutic and cleansing. People are drawn consciously and unconsciously, to those who listen to them.
Listening actually changes peoples attitude and actions
Listening draws out the best in people- it sells them on themselves. It gives them confidence and helps their creative powers.
There's probably no better way to help your self and others enjoy living more than listen to them.

Understanding:

How often do you feel misunderstood?
We all feel misunderstood at times--we want understanding from others although at times we won't admit it. We act tough and aggressive when in reality we are seeking understanding but we are just going about it in the wrong way. However, regardless of how we act, we want understanding from others.
When we get to know a person and find out some of his or her sorrows and suffering, we usually understand why they are like they are. This helps to melt down hostilities.
To practice the Golden Rule, we must give understanding to others since that is what we want from them.