Do the Right Thing

Spirit, science, and health.

by Thomas Plante, PhD

You treat people differently if you see the sacred within them

If we see the divine within everyone, you treat people differently

Published on February 1, 2010 by Thomas G. Plante, Ph.D., ABPP in Do the Right Thing

Sadly, we have lots of models of how not to behave towards others. We live in a culture where people are so often treated with distain and disrespect. Cable news and radio talk shows are filled with talking heads yelling at and insulting each other, their guests, and anyone they don't agree with or like. Reality television shows allow us to peer into a world where people can demean others without hesitation, guilt, or remorse (don't you ever wonder that if this is how people behave towards each other while on national television, how might they behave when the cameras are actually turned off?). Other reality based television shows, such as the Dr. Phil show, often parade people with remarkable relational, behavioral, and personal problems that spotlight people acting at their worst. Additionally, we hear constant media coverage of our public figures in the sports, entertainment, and political world who we often look up to behaving in remarkably poor ways (e.g., John Edwards, Tiger Woods).

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One of the tools of spirituality that I mentioned in an earlier blog post (December 28, 2009) is seeing the sacred in everyone. All of the spiritual and religious traditions offer this point of view (although not everyone associated with the various religious and spiritual traditions puts this approach into practice on a regular basis). If we see the divine within everyone, you treat people differently...even those who you really don't like very much. You treat everyone with more kindness, compassion, and respect. If we focus on the notion that everyone is sacred, everyone is the son or daughter of someone or perhaps the brother, sister, spouse, or loved one of somebody, perhaps we'll treat others better.

We are likely all familiar with the "Golden Rule" (i.e., treat others as you wish to be treated). All of the religious and spiritual traditions endorse and comment on the Golden Rule. If you see the sacred in yourself, can you see it in others? Give it a try. See if you can see the sacred in everyone and then watch how you behavior towards them. I'd bet that it would improve how we interact with each other. I would bet that you would treat others more graciously and with compassion. I know it is easier said than done but if we are mindful of this notion and practice it as often as possible, we would likely live in a better world for all of us.