David Lawrence Preston

Tag: Relationships

  • Asperger’s Syndrome

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    David Lawrence Preston
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    At the age of 62, I was diagnosed with Asperger’s. It wasn’t a huge surprise. I’d read about Asperger’s and it did seem to describe me. As a child, I was considered academically gifted and great things were expected of me. But I was also considered shy, nervous, physically clumsy and a bit of a…

  • Valentine’s Day

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    David Lawrence Preston
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    Today is Valentine’s Day. For many people this means it is a day of flowers, chocolates and greetings cards slushy, humorous or both. We may think this is a recent invention like Fathers’ Day, but that’s far from true. Valentine’s Day dates back many centuries and has its origins in 3rd Century Rome. St Valentine…

  • Give up approval-seeking behaviour

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    David Lawrence Preston
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    It’s perfectly natural to want to be liked and accepted, but it becomes a problem if you constantly edit yourself to win others’ approval. Approval-seeking behaviour has some short-term benefits (e.g. it can help avoid arguments), but has long-term consequences. You are unlikely to feel good about yourself if you continually pander to others. Concern…

  • Love your enemies

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    David Lawrence Preston
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    A great teacher taught that we should love our enemies and bless those who persecute us. What did he mean by this? Problems with others usually occur because our own thinking is in error. With no enmity in our thinking, we have no enemies! That’s why Abraham Lincoln observed, ‘Am I not destroying my enemies…

  • Accept others as they are

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    David Lawrence Preston
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    The biggest mistake we make in relationships is wishing other people were different and trying to change them. This leads only to resistance and resentment on both sides. They’re not going to change for you unless they want to. Accept people as they are. Be happy for others to be themselves. Few will measure up…

  • Non-judgement: not all judgements are bad but some can destroy you!

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    David Lawrence Preston
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    Our judgements can be huge stumbling blocks. We live by our judgements, but how do we know they are correct? What right do we have to judge our fellow beings? Can we ever know what is right for anyone else? Here I’m not thinking of everyday judgements like when to overtake, when our food is…

  • The Law of Reciprocity IS the Golden Rule

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    David Lawrence Preston
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    The Law of Reciprocity is the Golden Rule. It is usually stated as: ‘Treat everyone as you like to be treated.’ However this is not quite right. Others have their own values and preferences that you may not share. They may not want to be treated the same. Therefore the Law of Reciprocity is better…

  • Love your enemies

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    by

    David Lawrence Preston
    in

    A great teacher once said, ‘Love your enemies,’  baffling not only his audience but also hundreds of millions ever since. How can it be in our own interests to love our enemies? What did he mean by this? Problems with others usually occur because our own thinking is in error. With no enmity in our…

  • Non-judgement

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    by

    David Lawrence Preston
    in

    Our judgements can be huge stumbling blocks. We live by our judgements, but how do we know they are correct? What right do we have to judge our fellow beings? Can we ever know what is right for anyone else? Here I’m not thinking of everyday judgements like when to overtake, when our food is…

  • Live your truth and don’t be a DOPE!

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    David Lawrence Preston
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    Others love you the most when you live your truth. You’re on your own path, chosen and shaped by your situation, your environment, talents, skills, attitudes, aptitudes and interests. Others have theirs which determine the path they take. Comparing your path with someone else’s is pointless, like comparing apples with oranges; both are fruits, but…