Extra Energy Tip

When people show you who they are – believe them. This is something that Maja Angelou used to say and it’s very appropriate.

People are showing us who they are all the time, and when we don’t like it, for some reason we keep expecting them to change:

• The person who is always late is a person who is always late, don’t expect them to change and be on time just for you.

• The person who only thinks of themselves and never considers other people’s feelings – that’s who they are, don’t wonder why they’re not taking your needs into account.

• When you hear someone criticizing other people behind their backs, don’t be surprised if you learn that they have criticized you.

• If someone consistently disregards any boundaries you set with them, don’t expect them to suddenly change.

When you expect people to behave differently or think that everyone should think and behave the way that you do, you will regularly be disappointed and frustrated. When people show you who they are, believe them, the first time and you will save yourself a lot of unnecessary stress and wasted energy. If they do things you don’t like either learn to do whatever is necessary to be able to interact with them, or stay away from them – the choice is yours.

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