Timeless Truths (part 5): Always Assume Positive Intent

Everystockphoto.com/Active Listening

Always assume positive intent.

One of my friends works at Starbucks.  She told me always assuming positive intent was their company's philosophy when servicing customers.  And it's a good one.  This attitude can serve us well when interacting with all kind of  people we come across in life.
[reference: Accentuate the Positive | Miss Woodhouse's Musings] 

At times, quick judgments must be made.  At first, they may service us well as a filter - to see trouble coming and avoid it.  But left unchecked, quick judgments with limited information can morph into prejudice.  We don't know the whole story.  And sometimes our judgments on someone else are a reflection on ourselves, as noted here -

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
Romans 2:1 (NIV)

Ouch!

This clips makes a good point - Seeing the Good in Others: 

(reference:  http://youtu.be/GnoQSeMt2H0  )

Likewise, love sums it up:

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)

And Love demonstrated as always assuming positive intent is a Timeless Truth.

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Previous posts in series:

Timeless Truths (Part 1) - A Cup of Cold Water (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 2) - Love (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 3) - Hakuna Matata - No Worries? (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 4) - A Mother's Advice  (2013)

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Photo from:  Everystockphoto.com/Active Listening