Retaliation

By Chase Murphy on November 21, 2013

It's a challenge for anyone to resist the urge to retaliate. It's hard to turn the other cheek and let karma just run its course. Although it's bad karma to wish ill upon anyone regardless who is in the right. Isn't it?

 I once worked with someone who was at war with a fellow coworker. So much that this person let their disdain for this other person, consume them to the point of no return. Instead of doing what they were paid to do-they made it their job to sabotage the other person. They figured that if they could paint this other person in a negative light, they would be rewarded somehow. You know the rest right? They eventually got fired due to their own incompetence and the person that they hated eventually got promoted in the company. For the record, I was neither of these people, but rather an observer of what occurred.

 In this case, no matter who the "bad guy" was, karma picked the one that deserved to get sifted. Karma is an imaginary force of nature that most of us fear, but for valid reasons. We've all seen it run its course. It's the reason I don't laugh at people who get pulled over by the cops or use the phrase "I told you so" when others experience the thing I warned then about.

 It's hard to resist, but you are a better person for not finding happiness in the misfortune of others. It is weak to want the piano to drop on another person’s head like an old Bugs Bunny cartoon. Instead of waiting for the bus to hit them, you should spend that time looking for ways to help them get out of traffic. This way, when the bus does hit them, there is no blood on your hands. Karma won't then land on you. Well, at least in theory it works that way.

 Tit for tat is no way to work as part of a group. Keeping score against a coworker will only yield a waste of time and prove to be unproductive and a poor use of energy. Don't be so consumed by your need to be right that you become blind to the group goals. Congratulations, you were right! Now what? It doesn't mean you won. You will continue to be a part of an unhealthy situation. Good for you. Sit back and wait for the next inevitable issue, because until you learn to let go, things will never get better.

You have to be willing to lose a few battles in order for the team to win the war. Personal agenda, jealousy, vendettas and insecurities will derail and ruin every relationship every time.

 Move forward.

ABOUT CHASE MURPHY

chasemurphy
Radio host, consultant, and Author, Chase Patrick Murphy is the creator of the #Tryharder philosophy. A way of thinking that encourages readers to stop, take a moment, and do the right thing. To try a little harder in life, do right by others, and make the additional effort to improve your situation and theirs.

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