What do you bring to the table?

It's far too easy to look at every relationship from our own eyes.  We see how other people treat us, talk to us and engage us and we measure their efforts at how well they meet our expectations with too much scrutiny.  "He always does this...she always says that... they never do...".  We make a million and one observations of how people act towards us and we are quick to judge and worse yet, quick to blame.

But how do people see YOU?  What are you putting out there?  Compliments or criticisms?  Are you nice or negative?  Remember, how you treat others is very much how the world treats you.  I may complain that I don't get invited out by friends but perhaps I need to realize the reason they don't is because I've canceled too many times.  Your perception of a friend or family member being uncaring and distant might be because they only thing you bring to the relationship is self-centered drama, negativity and selfishness.

I'm not implying that you need to hide the hurt in your life but is that all you have to offer?  Sure it's ok to be frustrated with others but must every conversation begin and end with a criticism?  We all have pains, sorrows, frustrations and anger but sharing those things should only be done if it's truly our intent to overcome them.  Far too often we engage in conversations over the bad things in life purely to complain with no intentions to resolve the issues other than to try and convince the listener to be just as bitter and resentful as us.

It's the end of another year.  Wouldn't this be the perfect time to throw away old habits and make a decision to be a better version of yourself?  Stop looking at others to change themselves in order to be pleasing to you.  Change yourself to be the happy, positive person YOU want to be.  What you put out there is what you'll get in return.  Maybe you might lose a friend or two in the process and there may be a family member that resents you for your change but you WILL gain many more positive friends and you'll strengthen many loving
family bonds along the way.

Begin the new year right.  Be a new you, a better you and see the world light up before you.

Happy New Year!