“I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” ― Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States
Lincoln makes a cogent point in favor of self-knowledge. When my first reaction to someone is revulsion, it’s more likely a statement about me than about them. After all, I hardly know them. So what am I bringing to the table here?
Quick intense judgments are frequently an indicator of deeper reactions. Be they Buttons, Triggers or Pet Peeves, they show me how some innocuous thing going on right here and now is activating a long standing irritant I’m carrying deep inside me…
Which is fantastic! Here’s a golden opportunity to reveal a facet of myself of which I’m obviously unaware. Don’t miss this opportunity! This is my take on President Lincoln’s wisdom.
Or to put it another way, one of the surest paths to personal growth is this: When you spot a pet peeve, domesticate it!