Why do some people in positions of power and authority use that power to exploit and harm others and how can we prevent this behavior?

In today's world, where stiff competition, rivalry, envy, and constant uncertainty are everywhere, one common occurrence is that people in positions of power and authority tend to use that power to exploit and harm others. How can we prevent such behavior from happening at our end? Let’s see…

Embrace the positive trait of humility in our everyday life.

Incorporate the trait of humility in day-to-day life. What this means is transcending our ego, pride and arrogance. How do we do that? By prioritizing others. And also, taking care that our actions, thoughts, and speech do not hurt anyone. Humility encourages us to take into account the feelings of others and treat them as we would like to be treated. When we try putting our feet in another’s shoes, we realize what the other person is going through. And thereafter, when we are empathetic in our dealing with other living beings, we shall not be harsh to anyone.

Practicing humanity is a powerful way to bring positivity into your everyday interactions. By doing so, we can bring empathy and kindness into our interactions with others. For example, when we encounter situations where our expectations are not met, we can choose to respond with understanding and compassion rather than reacting negatively. This can lead to finding solutions and creating a more harmonious relationship. Remember, the first step to practicing humanity is acknowledging the impact of our actions and words on others.

These are a few steps to help us get there:

• Each morning, with sincerity, decide that ‘I do not want to hurt anyone through my thoughts, speech and actions’. Make this firm decision by saying it five times before starting your day.

• If you happen to hurt anyone through your thoughts, speech, or actions, ask for forgiveness (pratikraman). This is a powerful tool for washing away our hurtful deeds and improving our relationships.

• Do not allow your opinions or perceived judgment to get in the way. Learn to look at each interaction and situation, with a fresh pair of eyes, devoid of past opinions.

• Always treat others with respect and dignity, engaging in conversations as equals, without resorting to disdain or causing harm.

• See your faults. We often judge others because it is a lot easier than honestly assessing ourselves and embracing our flaws.

• If someone makes a mistake, it is better to adjust with them rather than pointing out their faults. There are many instances where you don't intend to make mistakes, but they occur because they are beyond your control. Similarly, the other person also makes mistakes unintentionally, so it's essential to understand this and be more accommodating.

• Take responsibility when you make a mistake. It is better to admit your mistakes than to cover them up. Being honest about your faults shows humility and earns respect from others.

• Don’t be afraid to praise others when they have done a good job. Praising goes a long way in building healthy relationships and making others feel valued and appreciated.

• Show kindness even in moments of conflict. Despite feeling provoked to retaliate when confronted with anger, strive to resist that temptation and respond with understanding. Make an effort to understand the source of the other person's frustration and see if there are any ways to address it.

• It is important to be open to feedback. Nobody is perfect, but we can always improve ourselves by learning from others and thereby developing our skills.

• Find ways to help others. A big part of being humble is being willing to help others in any way possible.

In short, practicing humility enables us to engage with others without being influenced by ego, pride, or arrogance. It teaches us to prioritize the emotions of others over our own. In every interaction, it prompts us to consider, "How would I feel if I were in their shoes? How would I want to be treated?” And when this happens, we have automatically prevented the behavior of using our power to exploit and harm others.

To read more, visit: https://www.dadabhagwan.org/path-to-happiness/humanity/help-others-the-purpose-of-life/how-to-help-people/