What will you tolerate?

“I have insecurities and flaws, of course, but I don’t hang out with anyone who points them out to me.” ~Adele

Growing up, I was lucky to have a family who believed in positive reinforcement. They encouraged my interests and were generous with praise and compliments. Their interpretation of the Golden Rule still resonates: “Be kind, respectful, and treat other people the way you want to be treated.“

I quickly learned that not everyone was raised with the same operating instructions. It took me a while to develop a thicker skin — especially when I was the target of rude, insensitive, or otherwise unkind remarks or behavior.

Today, I won’t tolerate insensitive behavior from people I encounter; nor will I invest much of my time listening to politicians who trash and vilify others who disagree with their views.

All said and done, there are times when receiving constructive criticism is necessary — and useful. But who wants to hang around people who consistently undermine your confidence or belittle what you stand for? As Adele reminds us, we all need to cultivate self-respect and limit the time we spend with anyone who devalues us. ~CL