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THE GOLDEN RULE NOT SO MUCH; PLATINUM RULE ROCKS | Jennifer Furlong | TEDxEvansStreet


I’m willing to bet that most of you if

I’m willing to bet that most of you if not all of you heard about the Golden

not all of you heard about the Golden

not all of you heard about the Golden Rule at some point while growing up and

Rule at some point while growing up and

Rule at some point while growing up and what does the golden rule teach us I

what does the golden rule teach us I

what does the golden rule teach us I think you’re more nervous than I am

think you’re more nervous than I am

think you’re more nervous than I am that’s right it teaches us to treat

that’s right it teaches us to treat

that’s right it teaches us to treat others the way we want to be treated and

others the way we want to be treated and

others the way we want to be treated and like many of you I learned this rule at

like many of you I learned this rule at

like many of you I learned this rule at a very young age for children it’s a

a very young age for children it’s a

a very young age for children it’s a great introduction to the idea of

great introduction to the idea of

great introduction to the idea of managing conflict and developing

managing conflict and developing

managing conflict and developing relationships but what about for adults

relationships but what about for adults

relationships but what about for adults how can the golden rule help us with our

how can the golden rule help us with our

how can the golden rule help us with our most important relationships how can the

most important relationships how can the

most important relationships how can the golden rule help us manage all of those

golden rule help us manage all of those

golden rule help us manage all of those relationship pitfalls and tiptoe around

relationship pitfalls and tiptoe around

relationship pitfalls and tiptoe around all of those relationship landmines

all of those relationship landmines

all of those relationship landmines well we’re gonna get to the answer but

well we’re gonna get to the answer but

well we’re gonna get to the answer but first let’s go all the way back to the

first let’s go all the way back to the

first let’s go all the way back to the beginning the first version of the

beginning the first version of the

beginning the first version of the golden rule appears around 1640 BC in

golden rule appears around 1640 BC in

golden rule appears around 1640 BC in ancient Egypt and is attributed to the

ancient Egypt and is attributed to the

ancient Egypt and is attributed to the goddess Maat who said due to the doer to

goddess Maat who said due to the doer to

goddess Maat who said due to the doer to make him do now fast forward to modern

make him do now fast forward to modern

make him do now fast forward to modern day and we can see that the golden rule

day and we can see that the golden rule

day and we can see that the golden rule is not only recognized all over the

is not only recognized all over the

is not only recognized all over the world but it’s taught by many different

world but it’s taught by many different

world but it’s taught by many different faiths all over the world the version

faiths all over the world the version

faiths all over the world the version that you and I are probably the most

that you and I are probably the most

that you and I are probably the most familiar with is going to be the

familiar with is going to be the

familiar with is going to be the Christian version which teaches us to do

Christian version which teaches us to do

Christian version which teaches us to do unto others as you would have them do

unto others as you would have them do

unto others as you would have them do unto you but did you know that islam

unto you but did you know that islam

unto you but did you know that islam teaches us to wish for others what you

teaches us to wish for others what you

teaches us to wish for others what you wish for yourself and Judaism teaches us

wish for yourself and Judaism teaches us

wish for yourself and Judaism teaches us that what you find hateful don’t do to

that what you find hateful don’t do to

that what you find hateful don’t do to your neighbor all over the world so many

your neighbor all over the world so many

your neighbor all over the world so many different faiths from Buddhism to

different faiths from Buddhism to

different faiths from Buddhism to Hinduism to Confucianism even the

Hinduism to Confucianism even the

Hinduism to Confucianism even the Wiccans teach some form of the Golden

Wiccans teach some form of the Golden

Wiccans teach some form of the Golden Rule because it’s so widespread it’s

Rule because it’s so widespread it’s

Rule because it’s so widespread it’s easy for us to see how it continues to

easy for us to see how it continues to

easy for us to see how it continues to be the standard we use to teach our

be the standard we use to teach our

be the standard we use to teach our children how to treat others and I do

children how to treat others and I do

children how to treat others and I do believe that most of us at least try to

believe that most of us at least try to

believe that most of us at least try to follow the rule to the best of our

follow the rule to the best of our

follow the rule to the best of our abilities but if this is true it’s being

abilities but if this is true it’s being

abilities but if this is true it’s being taught all over the world

taught all over the world

taught all over the world and we at least try to adhere to it why

and we at least try to adhere to it why

and we at least try to adhere to it why is it so difficult for us to maintain

is it so difficult for us to maintain

is it so difficult for us to maintain successful long-term relationships what

successful long-term relationships what

successful long-term relationships what are we doing wrong I’m gonna tell you

are we doing wrong I’m gonna tell you

are we doing wrong I’m gonna tell you it’s really not our fault it’s actually

it’s really not our fault it’s actually

it’s really not our fault it’s actually the golden rule the golden rule is

the golden rule the golden rule is

the golden rule the golden rule is terrible relationship advice it is it’s

terrible relationship advice it is it’s

terrible relationship advice it is it’s the worst relationship advice like ever

the worst relationship advice like ever

the worst relationship advice like ever yeah I’m just gonna put that right out

yeah I’m just gonna put that right out

yeah I’m just gonna put that right out there why it boils down to complexity

there why it boils down to complexity

there why it boils down to complexity and perception we have to remember that

and perception we have to remember that

and perception we have to remember that when we are speaking to another

when we are speaking to another

when we are speaking to another individual they’re just that they’re a

individual they’re just that they’re a

individual they’re just that they’re a different person we have to remember

different person we have to remember

different person we have to remember that they have different ideas different

that they have different ideas different

that they have different ideas different feelings different thoughts when I’m

feelings different thoughts when I’m

feelings different thoughts when I’m talking about our significant others and

talking about our significant others and

talking about our significant others and how to treat them I’m really talking

how to treat them I’m really talking

how to treat them I’m really talking about our spouses our best friends our

about our spouses our best friends our

about our spouses our best friends our boyfriends our girlfriends our immediate

boyfriends our girlfriends our immediate

boyfriends our girlfriends our immediate family members the people with whom we

family members the people with whom we

family members the people with whom we need to remain happy and healthy in

need to remain happy and healthy in

need to remain happy and healthy in order to have long-term successful

order to have long-term successful

order to have long-term successful relationships but instead we’re thinking

relationships but instead we’re thinking

relationships but instead we’re thinking about ourselves and to confirm this idea

about ourselves and to confirm this idea

about ourselves and to confirm this idea I did a highly scientific study and by

I did a highly scientific study and by

I did a highly scientific study and by highly scientific I mean I asked a bunch

highly scientific I mean I asked a bunch

highly scientific I mean I asked a bunch of my Facebook friends to just explain

of my Facebook friends to just explain

of my Facebook friends to just explain in their own words what they think about

in their own words what they think about

in their own words what they think about the golden rule I’m going to share with

the golden rule I’m going to share with

the golden rule I’m going to share with you some of those examples the first

you some of those examples the first

you some of those examples the first example it means I want to be understood

example it means I want to be understood

example it means I want to be understood by you so in turn I will make effort to

by you so in turn I will make effort to

by you so in turn I will make effort to understand you I call this one the lead

understand you I call this one the lead

understand you I call this one the lead by example concept I’m going to model

by example concept I’m going to model

by example concept I’m going to model for you the behavior I want from you

for you the behavior I want from you

for you the behavior I want from you example to think about what you want

example to think about what you want

example to think about what you want from the universe and give that energy

from the universe and give that energy

from the universe and give that energy to it I call this one the make-a-wish

to it I call this one the make-a-wish

to it I call this one the make-a-wish make it happen concept I’m gonna think

make it happen concept I’m gonna think

make it happen concept I’m gonna think about what I want and I’m going to will

about what I want and I’m going to will

about what I want and I’m going to will it to happen and then example three in

it to happen and then example three in

it to happen and then example three in order to get your way you must coerce

order to get your way you must coerce

order to get your way you must coerce others into believing that your

others into believing that your

others into believing that your intentions have them at center focus I

intentions have them at center focus I

intentions have them at center focus I call that one the politicians Creed

call that one the politicians Creed

call that one the politicians Creed and my favorite example yeah who hasn’t

and my favorite example yeah who hasn’t

and my favorite example yeah who hasn’t felt that way right all joking aside

felt that way right all joking aside

felt that way right all joking aside these examples do bring about they do

these examples do bring about they do

these examples do bring about they do represent exactly what is wrong with our

represent exactly what is wrong with our

represent exactly what is wrong with our relationships we’re focusing on

relationships we’re focusing on

relationships we’re focusing on ourselves we’re not thinking about the

ourselves we’re not thinking about the

ourselves we’re not thinking about the other person we do have to remember that

other person we do have to remember that

other person we do have to remember that they are an individual just like we are

they are an individual just like we are

they are an individual just like we are so what do we need to do I would like

so what do we need to do I would like

so what do we need to do I would like for you to consider an alternative an

for you to consider an alternative an

for you to consider an alternative an updated version a golden rule 2.0 if you

updated version a golden rule 2.0 if you

updated version a golden rule 2.0 if you will it’s going to be to treat others

will it’s going to be to treat others

will it’s going to be to treat others the way they want to be treated it

the way they want to be treated it

the way they want to be treated it completely changes your mindset from

completely changes your mindset from

completely changes your mindset from thinking about yourself to putting

thinking about yourself to putting

thinking about yourself to putting yourself in the back seat and it forces

yourself in the back seat and it forces

yourself in the back seat and it forces you to think about the other what are

you to think about the other what are

you to think about the other what are their wants what are their ideas what

their wants what are their ideas what

their wants what are their ideas what are their dreams what are their likes

are their dreams what are their likes

are their dreams what are their likes and their dislikes if you’re going to be

and their dislikes if you’re going to be

and their dislikes if you’re going to be in a successful long-term relationships

in a successful long-term relationships

in a successful long-term relationships it cannot always be about you it just

it cannot always be about you it just

it cannot always be about you it just can’t be and I’m going to give you a

can’t be and I’m going to give you a

can’t be and I’m going to give you a personal example my husband and I

personal example my husband and I

personal example my husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary

celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary

celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this past May and he is what I call a

this past May and he is what I call a

this past May and he is what I call a flaming extrovert the man knows no

flaming extrovert the man knows no

flaming extrovert the man knows no stranger he loves to be around people

stranger he loves to be around people

stranger he loves to be around people and he needs to be around people that’s

and he needs to be around people that’s

and he needs to be around people that’s how he recharges his batteries whereas

how he recharges his batteries whereas

how he recharges his batteries whereas I’m the queen of introverts I’m the

I’m the queen of introverts I’m the

I’m the queen of introverts I’m the exact opposite I find people to be

exact opposite I find people to be

exact opposite I find people to be utterly exhausting to be honest with you

utterly exhausting to be honest with you

utterly exhausting to be honest with you I need to go back into my cave to

I need to go back into my cave to

I need to go back into my cave to recharge my batteries so when you’re

recharge my batteries so when you’re

recharge my batteries so when you’re married to your polar opposite

married to your polar opposite

married to your polar opposite the golden rule 2.0 is key if I were to

the golden rule 2.0 is key if I were to

the golden rule 2.0 is key if I were to treat him the way I wanted to be treated

treat him the way I wanted to be treated

treat him the way I wanted to be treated and vice versa

and vice versa

and vice versa our marriage would not have lasted

our marriage would not have lasted

our marriage would not have lasted through the first year so what’s a

through the first year so what’s a

through the first year so what’s a married introvert to do especially when

married introvert to do especially when

married introvert to do especially when she’s married to the extrovert well over

she’s married to the extrovert well over

she’s married to the extrovert well over the years we’ve had to learn not only to

the years we’ve had to learn not only to

the years we’ve had to learn not only to acknowledge each other’s differences but

acknowledge each other’s differences but

acknowledge each other’s differences but to accept those differences into

to accept those differences into

to accept those differences into compromise so I will hang out I’ll be

compromise so I will hang out I’ll be

compromise so I will hang out I’ll be social and I’ll do that for an

social and I’ll do that for an

social and I’ll do that for an acceptable amount of time and then when

acceptable amount of time and then when

acceptable amount of time and then when I’m done I go back into my cave and he’s

I’m done I go back into my cave and he’s

I’m done I go back into my cave and he’s not allowed to complain about it or give

not allowed to complain about it or give

not allowed to complain about it or give me any grief and it makes both of us

me any grief and it makes both of us

me any grief and it makes both of us happy he’s happy and I’m happy you see

happy he’s happy and I’m happy you see

happy he’s happy and I’m happy you see just because you’re in a committed

just because you’re in a committed

just because you’re in a committed relationship it does not mean that you

relationship it does not mean that you

relationship it does not mean that you have to give up your own identity but

have to give up your own identity but

have to give up your own identity but just like any good dance partner you got

just like any good dance partner you got

just like any good dance partner you got to pay attention to the other person or

to pay attention to the other person or

to pay attention to the other person or else you’re just gonna keep stepping on

else you’re just gonna keep stepping on

else you’re just gonna keep stepping on each other’s toes and if you do that

each other’s toes and if you do that

each other’s toes and if you do that enough you’re gonna have to find a new

enough you’re gonna have to find a new

enough you’re gonna have to find a new dance partner and nobody wants to do

dance partner and nobody wants to do

dance partner and nobody wants to do that so I would like for you to take a

that so I would like for you to take a

that so I would like for you to take a moment to think about your significant

moment to think about your significant

moment to think about your significant others the people who are most important

others the people who are most important

others the people who are most important to you

to you

to you what are their likes and dislikes their

what are their likes and dislikes their

what are their likes and dislikes their wants their needs

wants their needs

wants their needs do they like dark chocolate or milk

do they like dark chocolate or milk

do they like dark chocolate or milk chocolate

chocolate

chocolate do they like surprises or do they like

do they like surprises or do they like

do they like surprises or do they like to plan things out do they like mushy

to plan things out do they like mushy

to plan things out do they like mushy sappy emotional holiday cards or do they

sappy emotional holiday cards or do they

sappy emotional holiday cards or do they like the funny raunchy ones do they like

like the funny raunchy ones do they like

like the funny raunchy ones do they like to text or do they prefer to call

to text or do they prefer to call

to text or do they prefer to call because they like to hear your voice are

because they like to hear your voice are

because they like to hear your voice are you treating them the way they want to

you treating them the way they want to

you treating them the way they want to be treated in closing don’t get me wrong

be treated in closing don’t get me wrong

be treated in closing don’t get me wrong the golden role is a wonderful rule and

the golden role is a wonderful rule and

the golden role is a wonderful rule and I do think that we need to continue

I do think that we need to continue

I do think that we need to continue teaching that rule to our children after

teaching that rule to our children after

teaching that rule to our children after all it’s a great way for us to teach

all it’s a great way for us to teach

all it’s a great way for us to teach them about empathy and to get them to

them about empathy and to get them to

them about empathy and to get them to understand the importance of being able

understand the importance of being able

understand the importance of being able to just get along with other people and

to just get along with other people and

to just get along with other people and also it’s a relief to know that it is

also it’s a relief to know that it is

also it’s a relief to know that it is still being taught all over the world by

still being taught all over the world by

still being taught all over the world by many different faiths from age 1 on up

many different faiths from age 1 on up

many different faiths from age 1 on up but you and I also know that as we grow

but you and I also know that as we grow

but you and I also know that as we grow older we become more complex individuals

older we become more complex individuals

older we become more complex individuals and our relationships become more

and our relationships become more

and our relationships become more complex so we need a rule that is a

complex so we need a rule that is a

complex so we need a rule that is a reflection of that complexity so let’s

reflection of that complexity so let’s

reflection of that complexity so let’s do something different

do something different

do something different let’s stop treating others the way we

let’s stop treating others the way we

let’s stop treating others the way we want to be treated and let’s start

want to be treated and let’s start

want to be treated and let’s start treating others the way they want to be

treating others the way they want to be

treating others the way they want to be treat it thank you

treat it thank you

treat it thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

”

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