December represents a month of hectic craze, which is one of the reasons we all love it so much. It's the month that you fit in your regular priorities, mixed in with extra special time with friends, family, co-workers, perhaps make a little more time to give back to your community and maybe even take a vacation. It's a lot. In all the hubbub, it is easy to become frazzled. Assuming that "people are coming from a place of good" becomes key in the month of December. Throughout the overscheduling and the rushing around, shortcuts may be taken in how we handle each other with care. Assuming that people are coming from a place of good is a mantra that I've chosen to come back to often in work and in my personal life.
I've come to understand that believing in the good of those around me creates resilience in my daily interactions. While always a work in progress, I work hard to consider this mantra when situations may not seem as ideal as I would like. Sometimes I need a little help remembering this mantra from my support system and in turn, sometimes I help others come back to this mantra. The more deliberate we are in our actions, the more thoughtful we are in our responses. Assuming that people are coming from a place of good, works every time, if you remember to think about it. Sometimes it is easier to remember than at other times but if you remember it can be so freeing. Next time a student, a teacher, a friend, a family member does something that challenges you to think of their actions in a positive light remember to assume first that their intention is a good one. It is a strategy that certainly helps regain focus during what is not only a trying month but it is also helpful all year round. As we train our minds to see the good in everything, we can be hopeful about a rich year ahead.
