Educational method
Or the gift of addressing what is best in each person
November 15th 2014
It is obvious that humans are imperfect, but an attitude of constantly pointing out their failings is not at all instructive. Ask yourself whether you are merely going to express your ill humour and exasperation at their behaviour or whether you actually want to help them.
If you really would like to help someone change their behaviour, focus on what is best in them, show them that you see their qualities (everyone has at least one), and call on these. That way you touch their pride, they try not to disappoint you, and so you encourage them to improve themselves. This rule is particularly true with children. You do not educate them by dwelling on their failings, by treating them as incapable, lazy, untruthful and dishonest. Under the weight of these accusations, they lose all desire to make an effort: as you have already formed a definite opinion of them, why would they try to change? But if you show them that they can always do better – for this is true – then, yes, you have some hope of educating them.