Screaming Emotion & What is Right

Hello. Well, today at work, I was screamed at, talked over, told I was inept and just totally disrespected. While I am sure the individual has her own Karma and will be dealt with (on many levels), I was saddened that we could not work together, communicate in a way that helped the business we are both paid to do. In this time of less people to do more with, doesn't it make more sense to get along? Real Simple magazine featured an article on great old philosophers and noted a favourite; Immanuel Kant. RS basically dissected Kant's take on moral issues down to imagining if everyone behaved as you do, everyone followed that same course of action. If I screamed over people I was annoyed with or did not understand on conference calls, and everybody else did too, what would be the outcome? If I lied and everyone else did too, who could be trusted? Therefore, should I scream? Should I lie? No. This was Kant's ethical test called "categorical imperative" which he believed should be applied to every action, as the key to leading a righteous life. So, I extended grace, exited the call, explaining I had work I needed to attend to since we could not have a conversation. Click. I followed up in an email to the team stating it is in our customer's best interest to have a team that works together and can come together with respect. I pushed back in a graceful way. This does not necesarilly come natural; it depends upon the day. But the truth I uphold is that when we extend respect and grace to the fools we must work with, (along with all the absolutely fabulous people who make up the majority) it makes the fool look like what he is...the fool. Regardless of how high your BP is at the moment, you come off very cool and controlled, always a good thing. And the bonus is that, in retrospect, (if the fool ever does that), sometimes the person that is acting the fool will walk away from one of these matches, where they made themselves look stupid and out of control, get that 'aha' moment, heal their own bad behaviour and begin treating both others and themselves much much better! By not mirroring their nasty behavior, not getting down into their level, it forces them to see how they are misbehaving. I want everyone, even the fool, to live their best life. I have been a fool myself. Peace, love, light and joy to you!