An Old Tee Shirt And Airing Dirty Laundry.

On occasion I do laundry. It's a household duty taught to me by my grandmother. Most of the time I enjoy doing it. It's rather mindless. But, I'm rather "picky" about how it get's done because I graduated from my grandmother's school of laundry. My wife, not so much. Another story for another day perhaps.

My grandmother told me, not to fold a tee shirt, in her words, "insideouderds" Hmmm? In other words, turn the shirt "right side out" before folding.

I heard someone say this week: " From your identity, comes your activity."

If you think about it, it's like folding laundry, it's an inside out process. I couldn't help but ask myself the following:

Are you living your life with "right?side out" mentality or are you "inside out"? Because often what is on the inside.... well, it may need to stay there. Right?

Often on the "inside", are stains, buried hurts, scars, mis-fortunes and mistakes, guilt, unforgiveness, negative beliefs, and all reveal themselves in our "activities". They speak loudly more so at times than actual words. Those deep wounds, all of us carry within are energy, and if not mindful, that negative energy expresses itself unaware. And too, not to be minimized, our pride, ego, accomplishment, accolades, education and experience, degrees etcetera, also can become a barrier to relationships and even interfere with our continued self-growth and learning. They can stain us negatively in the eyes of others.

Do you know the type? Someone speaks out against another because of an "I know better than you" attitude or "I'm an intellectual and I know better."

It's not that they don't "know", in fact, they very well may have valid points. It's the attitude in which the points are conveyed that trouble me. This attitude is a constant reminder to me of "inside out" thinking. Even though well meaning, and insightful, may be hurtful.

Who has reached their life-long capacity of learning? Who has reached their fullest potential? Who could not learn something of value, something new from another?

You see... who?we?are on the "inside" at present, should not become a barrier to ourselves or others.

How do we create WIN / WIN scenarios? Understanding and empathy help to build rapport with others. And it is rapport, that enables deeper communication, building connections, and enhances success for ourselves and those around us! This alone, more often than not, creates Win / Win scenarios.

Empathy,?the ability to understand the feelings of another. That is "outside in" type of thinking, and not "inside out". Adding value to others with an "outside in" mindset? PRICELESS, when building connections and relationships in business or personal.

My own definition of empathy? Leave the tee shirt wrong side out. Even with the stain, it displays humility, vulnerability and humbleness: Something the world could use more of if we are to build trust.

Perhaps?my friend, We need to leave the old tee shirt wrong side out. Be an "outside in" learner as opposed to an "inside out" advisor.

"If we don't go within", said Neale Donald Walsch, "we will go without."

I have to do more laundry.