“Deal with yourself as an individual worthy of respect, and make everyone else deal with you the same way. ”– Nikki Giovanni
The interesting word in here is “make.” MAKE everyone else deal with you the same way. If I don’t take a stand for myself, I can’t expect anyone else to stand up for me. That would be imbalanced.
I recently had to take a stand for my integrity in a group where others were choosing power plays over ethical dealings. Was I afraid of going against the grain? No.
Sowing and reaping is a thing, and I don’t want bad energy coming after me. So I stood in my integrity and let the chips fall where they fell.
At the end of the day, I have to look myself in the mirror and say: “Did I treat you with respect? Did I stand up for your dignity?”
I want to answer those questions with a “yes.”
