Mad Men Quote

Mad Men Quote:

Don Draper: She’s a sweet girl and she wants me to know her, but I already do. People tell you who they are but we ignore it, because we want them to be who we want them to be.

Season 4 Episode 8: The Summer Man

I find this to be similar to the Maya Angelo quote:

"When people tell you who they are -- believe them"

This is one of the hardest things for me to do. I sometimes deny that someone has shown me a truth and dwell in the lie without even knowing it. I think it is a self-protection reflex. It's like when you are on a long trip and you are mad at the person sitting next to you in the car. You can make the best of it by focusing on your surroundings and discussing something far from the source of anger. You can make the best of it with silence. OR you can make the best of it by discussing the problem and letting it go. I find that I get stuck in the surroundings focus that I never get back to the problem. I have had some family (not really immediate family) that uses revenge. They are calculated in their anger and wait to pounce like a cat. If you bring up a problem, they feel that you are hurting them personally and will find a way to hurt you personally later. I made the mistake of bringing some friends and lovers into my heart with this same reaction. I kept trying to fix this familial problem and realized there is nothing to fix. It is what it is. I now surround myself with people who don't use revenge and who don't take it personally. We live on this planet with billions of people. We are going to cross paths that seem to throw you off of your path but if we can remember that paths are not straight, that they have curves and turns and rough patches, we will be much happier with the journey.

I also like those times when you have to make your own path. I feel like I am in that mode professionally right now. I can see the highway but I am still in the forest trudging closer to civilization. It is so important to let these quotes reveal themselves to you when deciding to work somewhere. I will be so glad to work in a more positive environment with people that are more emotionally intelligent. I have worked in both positive and negative environments and notice that my efficacy is 100 percent in the positive place. My emotional intelligence has also grown so much personally and professionally over the last few years and I realize that I am now ready for that great work place. I just need to remember patience which has come much easier with this new way of thinking. I am so happy for mistakes so that I can get to the best place possible for my ultimate self.