A recent book proposes to figuratively give everyone I meet an "A", like the grades we received in school but instead of giving it in comparison to a B or C person, I give it in attitude towards the potential of that encounter. My attitude provides the opportunity for the person to realize themselves and the opportunity and freedom to risk. The stress and anxiety usually created by trying to achieve to someone's standard is erased, especially in the case of teacher/student or manager/employee relationships. We become aligned in the goal of success and open ourselves to creativity, joy, productivity and many other healthy emotions and talents.
The opposite of giving an "A" is judgement and labels. Remember that teacher that said you would never amount to anything? He/she was holding us to their standard of success or skill. Those comments affected us beyond what we sometimes realize and were not true then and are not true now.
Testing our personal history for truth is a challenge and necessary step toward true maturity and healthy self love. Until we love ourselves, know our true value and understand the contribution we offer to humanity we will not achieve our innate greatness. From a Christian standpoint, God always gave us an A. He gave us an A before we were born, before we knew Him and because we are "A" caliber we are granted the capability to be great. Much is expected of the "A" student. Much is expected of us, but not by drudgery or struggle but because of joy and gratitude for the acknowledgement of our potential, long before we are aware of it. The unconditional affirmation of our worth, the expectation of our contribution to the wholeness of our world are meant to provide confidence to our "work" and our existence.
