Do Unto Others...

Almost everyone is familiar with the “Golden Rule.” I remember learning about this simple rule taught through Jesus growing up, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” While the rule is simple and easy to understand on a surface level, the actual meaning of the rule in my perspective is far more complex. I have only begun to integrate its complexity and apply it practically as an adult.

The basis of the rule is to treat others the way you want to be treated, but why? Why do we treat others better than the way they have or have not treated us? One egoic explanation is to embody the higher perspective and treat others better than they’ve treated you, because you are better than that or them. Another perspective is to embody this rule because it’s the moral thing to do- “kill them with kindness.” A final perspective and the most enlightening and useful one for me is that everyone is a reflection of me, so how I treat them is how I treat me (self-love). The last perspective is a deep understanding of the nature of reality and consciousness and took me years to integrate, understand, and attempt to apply. However, l will break down the last perspective into something tangible, easy to digest, and helpful to consider.

When we choose to apply this rule, we understand that changing our experience begins with changing ourselves. If we truly want to cultivate a deeper love for ourselves, we must choose to see/feel the connection between ourselves and others and recognize that hurting them hurts us. It’s a reciprocal relationship with direct impact in our physical, emotional/mental, and spiritual environment. Some will label the interaction “karma” or cause and effect. However, the motivation for embodying the principle is to change what you project in the world and attract the people, places, and experiences that embody greater self-love. This will ultimately manifest more of others treating you the way you want to be treated, because you are treating yourself the way you want to be treated. It can be a bit confusing to comprehend on the surface- but the magic is experienced through application. Some might better relate to this idea via an understanding of the law of attraction.

I now understand the true wisdom behind the Golden Rule, not from an egoic or moralistic standpoint- but from self-love and connection to all things. I try to see a bit of myself in everyone and apply genuine compassion in my interactions. I’ve realized the better I treat others reflects back in my personal life with how I treat myself. If I am overly critical of others, I am more likely overly critical of myself. If I am hard on others, I am more likely hard on myself. If I embody love and forgiveness for others, I embody more love and forgiveness for myself. By applying this rule, I can always choose to project outward self-love and attract people and experiences that magnify that vibration.

Next time you are in a situation to apply the Golden Rule, consider the relevancy of this article and apply the concepts as they resonate with you. When I have applied this rule in the intended way, I have changed my experience for the better. I am learning to embody more self-love everyday and act in ways that affirm that self-love and connectedness with all things.

-Jaclyn