"朝起きたときに言い聞かせよう今日私が関わる人々はおせっかいで恩知らずで傲慢で不正直で嫉妬深く不機嫌だと"

When you start your day, it helps to remind yourself that you might run into people who are difficult – they might be nosy, unappreciative, full of themselves, liars, envious, or just plain grumpy. The idea is to mentally prepare for the inevitable challenges posed by other people's behavior. It's like putting on a raincoat before you head out into a storm. It doesn't mean you're looking for trouble or expecting the worst, but rather, you're equipping yourself to deal with it calmly and effectively.

Let’s rewind to ancient Rome. This nugget of wisdom comes from none other than Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor and a stoic philosopher who jotted down his thoughts in a series of personal writings known as "Meditations." He had a tough job, constantly dealing with political intrigue, military conflicts, and managing a vast empire. Imagine being under that kind of pressure! This bit of advice was his way of staying grounded and not letting the inevitable negativity of others knock him off balance.

Now, picture this: you’re a manager at a fast-paced tech startup. You walk into the office, and almost immediately, things start going sideways. Your top developer is in a foul mood because of an argument at home. A client sends a scathing email about a minor bug. The intern messed up the coffee machine, and now there's a caffeine crisis. But you don’t lose your cool. Why? Because you’ve taken a page from Marcus’s playbook. You knew that not everyone would be dancing on rainbows today, and you've already decided not to let it ruin your day. Instead, you handle each issue with patience and poise.

So, how do you apply this? Start by setting a few minutes aside each morning to brace yourself. Think of it like a mental warm-up. Acknowledge that you might face some difficult personalities. This isn't about being pessimistic. It's about being realistic and compassionate. You’re giving yourself the space to react thoughtfully rather than impulsively. When the irritations come, you're not caught off guard. You’re ready.

Let's say you’re a teacher. Every day, you stand in front of a class filled with unique, sometimes challenging personalities. There’s Tom, who always questions your authority. Sally, who never turns in her homework on time and doesn’t seem to care. And Jake, who can’t sit still and disrupts the class. You could let these behaviors frustrate you, but instead, you remember your morning mantra. You expected this. You prepared for it. You address Tom’s questions with patience, understanding he’s just curious. You offer Sally some extra help because maybe she’s struggling with the material. And for Jake? You give him tasks to channel his energy positively. Instead of feeling like you’re constantly firefighting, you’re managing your classroom with empathy and foresight.

In essence, it’s about mastering your own reactions. Expecting the worst in people doesn’t mean you think poorly of them; it frees you from the emotional turmoil their actions might cause. It’s like you're playing chess and you're already thinking a few moves ahead. You’re steady and ready for whatever comes your way.

So, next time you’re sipping your morning coffee, give it a try. Take a deep breath, and remind yourself that you’ve got this – no matter who or what comes your way. You're not just surviving the day. You’re owning it.