Sunday Snippet: Ken Keyes Jr. (1921-1995)

“A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror.”

You may have heard that you receive back what you put out into the world. This only makes sense. Smile and the world will smile back at you. And if you are particularly grumpy and angry all the time, other people aren’t going to be particularly friendly with you either. And even when they are, your negative mindset will color your experience.

William Shakespeare once reminded us that there is nothing inherently good or bad in this world; it’s all in our heads. That may or may not be completely true, but we can choose how we interpret a situation and how we choose to react to it. If you’re a naturally happy person, “bad” events won’t bother you nearly as much. Love and be loved.

Indeed, as personal growth author Ken Keyes, Jr. asserts in the quote above, everyone you meet is indeed your mirror. If you’re nice to everyone, you’re far more likely to surround yourself with other nice people. And even if you do encounter the cynical grump (or the grumpy cynic), remember to be kind to your fellow man. It all starts with a single smile and some basic courtesy.