The most difficult people are the ones who need the most love. Be nice to a mean person today. What comes from the heart, goes to the heart.

It is no use to be nice to a mean person. If you do so, it will be taken as you are weak and are afraid of him/her.

Just my opinion, but I think you can be nice to a mean person without appearing weak or submissive. If you stand up to them with love and respect and do not react to their anger with more anger, you just might soften their heart and turn them into a friend. I have experienced this.

GT :-)

A smile works for me. It's hard for people to resist a real genuine smile. Plus I hardly ever take things personally any more.

Hi, Carol: A smile can work wonders.

Something I sometimes do with mean or rude people, but doesn't always work with everybody, is laugh when they say something mean or intended to be rude. I act like they're not serious, perhaps joking. I think they then get the idea that I missed their point and since I'm "just not getting it," it sometimes kind of diffuses their poor attitude ... or slows them down a bit, anyway.

GT :-)

Yes, I agree smiles do work..., but not always in the way you might expect!

Several years ago I was lecturing at a tertiary institute in disability studies. Most of my students were female and worked in jobs such as residential care officers or teacher aides in special schools.

One day during a mid-lecture break, one of my students asked, "Ian do you think we are stupid?"

I was quite surprised by her question and responded with, "not at all, why do you ask?"

She replied,"whenever we ask you a question, you always smile at us before answering".

Obviously my natural tendency to smile was being interpreted as meaning something else.

Just give your smile to even the meanest person... it may be the only one they get! It costs you nothing and you may even get one in return!

Be the bigger person, the bigger you. If someone has hurt you, resist any desire for vengeance. Rise above temporary emotions, see the positive in every situation, and treat everyone as you want to be treated. The mirror of the universe reflects back your actions, whatever they are. What good are you reflecting today? yb@kabbalah.com.

Good friends give you space to screw up, learn your lessons, and go through your process. They don’t disappear on you. Be a good friend today.

yb@kabbalah.com

A good friend is one whom you miss.