Rose Colored Glasses

Rose colored glasses
I have been told by people that know me and love me, that I don’t see the same world as most people. Some say I exaggerate things, others that I fabricate stories and many that I see the world through rose colored glasses. They say I see the world the way I wish it was, instead of how it truly is. I focus on the good in people and try to see their “whys” for the things they do that I disapprove of. Whether that is true or not I don’t know but it got me to thinking…

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone in the world wore rose colored glasses? If all of us look at the best that the world has to offer and saw the strengths in people instead of their short-comings. So many times when someone does something we don’t like we are quick to judge their behavior as bad or evil instead of stopping to look at all the possible reasons for their behavior. We take their actions personally, as if they did it to us and don’t treat it as, merely a random act.

I read a book once called The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz and he talked about creating a better world by all people living according to four agreements.
1. Don’t take things personally
2. Always do your best
3. Be impeccable to your word
4. Don’t make assumptions
After reading the book I thought about how it could change the world if we could all live by those agreements. What if when someone did something that scared us or hurt us we would look for the possible reasons for their actions or better yet what is we asked them about their reasons rather than assuming we already knew them.

I wondered how much industry and economies would prosper if every person that came to work put forth their best effort and felt pride in the job they were doing. Not only would the employees change but also the management would work at being the best, the most understanding, the fairest, the most organized that they were capable of being.

And what a change our world would see if no one uttered a word that would do harm to another person. Not one word of dishonesty. No gossip about another person. No criticism unless it was to that person and was only meant to help them improve the situation. No nation would judge or criticize another, unless they were discussing with that nation what their needs were and were offering assistance to improve a situation. And even then they would allow the other nation the right to choose whether or not to accept their offer of assistance.

And finally what if each of us gave up our claim to mind reading powers and stopped assuming we knew what was in another's mind or heart when they did or said something. What if we went to the source? What if we allowed others the right to make mistakes sometimes and then learn from them without criticizing or making fun of their efforts?

So today I will get up and start my day but first I will put on my rose colored glasses and remind myself to see the world as it could be and look for the best in each person I meet.