The Greek philosopher, Plato, said, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”
It’s true. No one is excluded from life’s challenges—whether these setbacks involve health, relationships, money, or some other dimension of our lives.
There’s a tendency to see our own situation as unique—as if no one else is dealing with the same stuff we’re dealing with. And that’s partly true. Each of our situations is singular in terms of the particular struggles we face day-to-day.
So, while our situations may differ in that your battle looks different than my battle, the fact remains that we’re both fighting hard battles…
I’ve found that from a customer service perspective, whether serving a coworker or paying customer, when I remember that everyone I meet (regardless of appearances) is fighting his or her own unique battle, I’m reminded to:
- Smile
- Make eye contact
- Listen
- Be patient
- Be tolerant
- Be understanding
- Be forgiving
- Be respectful
And I’m also reminded, as Plato advised, to be kind.
