“Do unto yourself as you do unto others.”

Part of an occasional series about phrases that this therapist finds himself repeating, often.

Photo by Benjamin Smith on Unsplash

I know. I’ve gotten the “Golden Rule” all mixed up. But hear me out.

This “Golden Rule”, like most things, depends on where you stand as to how you see it, or how you experience it.

For many of us, we only hear this:

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Or something like this:

Treat others as you would want to be treated.

And those are wonderful words, especially if you are in a position to do good for someone else. Many of us are in those positions.

Clinically, I have worked with many folks who are in positions to help others: nurses and doctors, paramedics and police officers, clergy and teachers, librarians and caregivers, and so many others who are in a position to help or to hurt.

In that position, I want someone to treat me in the same way that they want to be treated.

But part of the challenge is that we take this too far, and in a way that hurts instead of helps.

Yes, we should do good for others, treating them as we would like to be treated…