(Minghui.org) I have a colleague at work who is known for her sarcasm, and often gets into arguments with others. Many colleagues believe that she suffers from paranoia, and imagines everyone is out to make things difficult for her—which has made her generally unpopular in the company. Although I rarely had any conflicts with her, she unexpectedly yelled at me one day.
She was responsible for cleaning our offices and mopping the floors. However, she usually neglected to dry the mop properly, leaving it damp in the sink. As a result, the mop became moldy, causing the air to smell musty after she finished mopping. The smell would persist until the window was opened for some time. I disliked staying in the room right after the mopping but had tolerated the situation without mentioning it to her.
One particular morning, as the unpleasant musty smell filled the air, I said with smile, “The weather is getting cold; we do not open the windows as often and the musty smell is getting stronger. How can we solve the problem of the moldy mop?”
She exploded, yelling, “It’s not because of the mop! The mop doesn’t smell! I can’t fix it! Whoever can, go ahead and fix it!” I was stunned, as I did not expect such a strong response. Her face darkened and she looked angry.
I didn’t argue back; I thought she probably misunderstood me. I explained that she just needed to clean the mop thoroughly to prevent mold. She wouldn’t listen. She thought that I was nitpicking and she remained angry.
Facing her anger, I did not argue back. I stayed calm and felt sympathy for how easily she got upset and how much it affected her mood. I felt that I should explain that I wasn’t accusing her; I just wanted to solve the problem. I then sincerely shared my thoughts and after researching online for a solution; I suggested that she soak the mop in a disinfectant solution for half an hour.
However, she angrily said, “I don’t have time to take the mop out of the disinfectant! I have other chores to do after the mopping.” I said, “It’s okay, I’ll take it out, wring it and put it out to dry, and I’ll take it back inside after work.” She didn’t say anything. She simply soaked the mop in disinfectant and left.
I didn’t feel angry at all. Instead, I felt sympathy for the struggles ordinary people face in situations that could be easily resolved through peaceful communication, but too often turn into an argument. That day, I rinsed the mop, took it out to dry, and brought it back inside before leaving work. The next morning, when she mopped the floor, the musty smell was gone.
From then on, I made a habit of taking care of the mop after she finished mopping. Some colleagues remarked that it was her job and not mine, but I simply smiled and said, “It’s no trouble at all. It’s a small favor that solves the problem.” Whenever I forgot to take the mop out of the disinfectant or bring it inside after work, she never complained, instead, she did it herself. On several occasions, she even took the mop inside before leaving work. Our communication also became noticeably more friendly.
Through the mop incident, she realized that I meant her no harm, and became more willing to chat with me. My colleagues in the office said, “She is friendly with you now.” I understood that it was because I treated her with the mindset of a Dafa practitioner. I treated her kindly, with sincerity and patience, no matter how she treated me. My ability to handle the situation with a Dafa practitioner’s mindset was shaped by an earlier experience.
She had accused me once before. At that time I failed to remain calm and argued loudly with her. Afterward, I felt deep regret. I felt that I failed to treat her with compassion, didn’t look inside for any cause on my part, and was swayed by ordinary emotions. I felt that I failed to manifest the nobleness of a Dafa practitioner and did not uphold the standard to validate Dafa. That experience exposed my reluctance to accept criticism, and also my attachment to personal image.
Additionally, witnessing her conflicts with other colleagues—their mutual anger and efforts to make trouble for one another—filled me with pity for ordinary people.
I reminded myself, “I am a Falun Dafa practitioner; I am not an ordinary person. I must be tolerant of others and conduct myself following the principles of Falun Dafa: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I should let go of feelings of injustice, refrain from complaining, and strive to improve my xinxing according to the Fa.”
This prior incident exposed my shortcomings and I worked on improving my xinxing. This time, facing her accusation, I was able let go of my grudges and treated her calmly and with a smile. I thus handled the situation well.
Thank you, Master, for teaching me the Fa and helping me to cultivate. I know that I still have a lot of shortcomings. With Master’s guidance, I will continue to correct myself in accordance with the Fa.
Category: Improving Oneself
