It happens every time! I've seen it. You've seen it. I've done it. You've done it. I hate it when the sign says, "Lane ends, Merge right" because I know what that means and so do you. Everyone begins to line up and there is always someone who waits until the very last moment to try and move over. Or even more selfishly, jumps in at the last second so that everyone else who has waited patiently has to slam on their breaks. That annoys the hound out of me...until I do it. But you see, "I'm different. I'm special." I am not like everyone else.

This past week I've talked with several people who have been extremely disappointed in one way or another with either the leadership in an organization or just people in general. And I caught myself several times saying, "If I were you...."

So what does, "Lane ends" and "If I were you..." have in common? We are all selfish and have no idea what we would do in someone else's shoes. Everyone else is selfish until they do it. "I know just how someone else feels" because I have been in a similar situation. That's a lie. I am selfish and I have never been in exactly the same situation as someone else plus my world view, my expectations, my values are what make me different than you. I can't be truly objective about any situation.

So the next time someone cuts you off or you're tempted to say, "I know just how you feel." Stop and understand what often looks like a people problem is more likely a situational problem. Give people a break because you are not them and don't see, feel, or understand just like they do.

Change places with the person who cut you off and then you get a better idea as to why they really are a jerk!   

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 This is a great commercial! It speaks volumes about life and relationships.