January 2: Mencius Book IV Part A

January 2
Mencius Book IV Part A
4. Mencius said, “If others do not respond to your love with love, look into your own benevolence; if others fail to respond to your attempts to govern them with order, look into your own wisdom; if others do not return your courtesy, look into your own respect. In other words, look into yourself whenever you fail to achieve your purpose. When you are correct in your person, the Empire will turn to you. The Odes say, “Long may he be worthy of Heaven’s Mandate, / And find for himself much good fortune.” (Ode 235).”

- this reminds me of what I said to mom & dad recently, that if other people were not responding to the attempt to reach out and offer a dialogue, perhaps we could reflect on how we were offering and if there was a way we could make it more accessible to them, to make more space for them to respond.