My friend’s daughter-in-law, Anne, was going to the pharmacy.
“Have you got some drawing ointment for a boil?” she asked.
The pharmacist, who cares deeply for the well-being of her customers replied, “Yes, but why don’t you get it from the supermarket. It’s the same stuff at a lower price.”
At this point, Anne started fuming, she turned around and left the pharmacy without getting her cream. But she did leave the pharmacist slightly bemused.
So what happened?
Didn’t Anne realize that the pharmacist was just trying to help?
Well, she possibly does, but that isn’t what she was thinking at the time. You see, Anne, like everyone on this earth, sees the world through their own experience.
For Anne, who had spent a large part of her childhood in poverty, being pointed toward a good deal was offensive, as if the pharmacist were saying, “Oh, you poor little girl, you don’t have any money, here’s a free handout.”
What can we learn from Anne?
If Anne had the skills she could have:
- recognized the negative reaction and asked herself why she was reacting so badly,
- evaluated what the words meant to her
- “re-listen” to the exact words used by the pharmacist (rather than her distorted interpretation) and then see that the assistant was only trying to be helpful.
- examine the thought – just because a thought pops into your head doesn’t mean it’s correct,
- Result? A greater peace …. move on!
Have a great week!