When dating someone new or old, you try your best to not make your partner feel as though you’re negatively affecting them in ways they’ve been affected before. When you care deeply for someone, your natural instinct should be to do right by them. The reason for this is that you love them and want them to feel loved and empowered.
Every once in a while you come across a person that really just doesn’t care how their actions affect others. Most of the time when someone seems as if they just don’t care, they’re usually just having a hard time showing that they do. It’s called consideration.
When you’re in a relationship, intimate or platonic, it’s very important to keep in mind how you affect that person. Before doing or saying anything that could possibly be offensive, take a second to think about how it will affect everyone involved. I’m not saying that you should have others at the front of your mind at all times, but it is important to consider others when making decisions that could affect them.
When a bullet is fired, it doesn’t have anyone’s name on it. It’s a nameless bullet that can go through the intended target and land on an unexpected one. Think of your actions as a bullet. Before you pull the trigger, consider who else could be hit by it.
It’s not as simple as one would think, especially when you’re accustomed to reacting, rather than taking a second to consider before acting. The way I like to put it is this; we should never verbally react. When something comes our way, we should take a second to process it and then we act. The difference a few moments will have not only on your psyche but on the people around is enormous. You’ll go from being seen as a “defensive” person, to someone who is methodical, well-spoken, and considerate.
I challenge us all to apply this to our everyday lives.
