We call it the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” Every healthy family I know practices the Golden Rule. They treat one another with the same kind of honor, dignity, respect, and love with which they would like to be treated.
Unhealthy families live by a set of less than golden rules. Some live by the Reciprocal Rule: “You scratch my back and I will scratch yours. You go first and whatever you do for me, I will do for you.” Some live by the Ricochet Rule: “The way I have been treated in other relationships controls the way I treat you.” Some live by the Hidden Motive Rule: “I act like I am doing this for you, but it really is an effort to manipulate you to get what I want.”
Great families and relationships live by the Golden Rule. Ask yourself how you want others to treat you, then take the initiative and treat them the same way.
» Which “rule” best describes the way you treat your family?
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