Other peoples shoes...

Shared by my friend Anna:

http://www.aish.com/spirituality/growth/Other_Peoples_Shoes.asp

A couple decades later I learned about one of the Torah's most intriguing mitzvot, the obligation to judge other people favorably. The Torah enjoins us: "Judge your fellowman justly." [Lev. 19:15] The classic commentators explain this to mean "judge your fellowman favorably and interpret his actions and words only to the good." [Sefer HaChinuch 235]

Three thousand years before the advent of Cognitive Psychology, the Torah recognized that our attitudes (and consequently our words and actions) are formed not by what the other person said or did, but rather by our interpretation of what the other person said or did. Therefore, the Torah obligates us, whenever possible, to find or devise a favorable interpretation

Chilly behavior

What to say? I am baffled by the absurdity of human behavior. Then, with a few hours of detachment it comes to me. FEAR, that is why they behave in this manner. Unadulturated FEAR. Fear of failure, fear of not being noticed, fear of not being relevant, fear of being discovered as unworthy of respect or position, fear of the uncertainty of their own beliefs. Question is, why do YOU react to their behavior in uncertain fashion. YOU are sure of your beliefs, sure of your stance, sure of your direction. Yes, but the uncertainty of the outcomes keeps the flame of anxiety burning, probably forever. Same for them. It does not take long for it to become a flame thrower. Stay the course. You the leader will reduce their fear as their behaviors reach better results. It always has, you simply forgot.

Attitudeman (in winter...... )

Bank Opposes Eminent Domain

BB& T Restricts Loans to Developers

By Brooke A. MastersWashington Post Staff WriterThursday, January 26, 2006; Page D01

BB&T Corp., a North Carolina-based financial services company with a substantial Washington area presence, said it will not lend money to private real estate development projects that rely on local governments to seize land from reluctant sellers.

The bank and legal analysts said they believe BB&T is the first major financial institution to announce such a policy since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that using "eminent domain" powers for privately owned projects did not violate the Constitution. The court ruling in Kelo v. City of New London sparked public opposition and efforts in Congress and states to put new limits on local governments' power to condemn private land.

www.washingtonpost.com/ar2006012502022.htlm