It’s easy to show and voice approval of something or someone you like or admire. We all do it everyday.

But what if you see (read or hear about) a person you dislike (or even hate) do(ing) something good or worth being commended for, what would you do?

Yes…what would YOU do?

Would you be willing to put your feelings about that person you dislike (or even hate) aside, and openly acknowledge or commend him/her for doing that “good/commendable” thing in spite of any reservations you have?

Or would you choose to ignore it, and wait instead for when next s/he will do something you can disagree with, in line with your feelings about him/her.

The proper way to behave in situations like those described above is readily obvious to any person willing to be fair minded and objective.

And that is you would be wise to: put your feelings about him aside, and openly acknowledge or commend him/her.

Indeed, you could even go further and reach out to him/her based on the above, to find ways to mend fences or reduce the differences you have with one another. So much so, that at some point both of you, and/or those you represent or lead may find cause to relate more amicably with one another.

What I have said above can be applied in a variety of social situations – be they formal, informal or non-formal.

Our ability to progress in various areas of our lives as individuals and groups, is greatly dependent on a willingness to be fair and impartial in our routine assessment and interpretation of one another’s words and actions.

Not only should we be willing and determined to exercise restraint in adopting negative mental attitudes towards the other party, we should also be keen to adopt positive perspectives in relating with one another – including SEE and ACKNOWLEDGING the good in the other person(s).

Failure to do that will breed bitterness and resentment, which will over time build up into hate – making it almost impossible for any problems you have to ever be resolved.

And THAT would imply mutually beneficial progress would be difficult to achieve.

Such situations are what result in stagnation in societal development. Some countries today suffer severe lack of developmental advancement due to the problem described here. It exists in their socio-cultural, socio-economic as well as socio-political circles. And it’s killing them as a people – slowly, but surely.

1. I know one country that has this problem.

Indeed virtually every country has it, but in varying degrees.

This country has however kept itself in a leading position in world affairs, for decades, because its people EMBRACE a culture of being willing to SEE and ACKNOWLEDGING the good in the other person(s), even if they do not like him/her for certain faults.

And their actions are often guided by the LOVE they feel for their nation, and their desire to make sure it does NOT fail or fall.

As a result, even when they support or like a certain person, if they see him/her display traits or tendencies that threaten the common good of ALL citizens, majority of them rarely hesitate to call that person out, and subsequently join forces, even with “rivals” against that individual.

That habit has helped that country defeat all forms of adversity for decades.

2. I know ANOTHER country, that despite all it’s hackneyed “potential”, remains a crawling giant right till this day because this sad condition pervades its length and breadth.

Even when the “good/commendable” thing done by the person or group they “dislike (or even hate)” directly benefits ONLY THEM, the people afflicted with this negative mentality are so mean that they will either ignore it, or find ways to misinterpret the motives of the doer(s)!

What a wasteful way to live!