Do unto . . .

You know the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you’d have others do to you. Sometimes it’s put in the negative – do not do to others what you would not want done to you. Either way, we know it, we get it.

Now, consider that with another saying attributed to Socrates, Sai Baba and others regarding communication: Before you speak, ask yourself, is it true, is it necessary, is it kind?

Taken together, these two axioms provide powerful guidance for living an empathic and authentic life out there in this challenging world of ours whether it’s with family, colleagues, neighbors, community.

But here’s what I’d like you to do this week.

Practice this combined guidance on yourself. Treat yourself as you wish others would treat you. Before you engage in negative self-talk, check it: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? This one is even harder than the Golden Rule because you can’t hide your thoughts from yourself by not saying them. But you can check yourself.

You can be honest. You can know if you are talking yourself down with untruths. You do know if you are being unkind to yourself. And you definitely know that beating yourself up is not necessary – ever. You wouldn’t let someone else do that to someone you love. And you don’t want other people doing it to you. So why is it okay for you to do it?

It's not, so don’t do it. Treat yourself the way you want others to treat you. Unto yourself, do love, do respect, do care.