I asked my friend Wendy how and why she is such a patient person. She said, “I assume the other person is doing the best they can. Doing the best they can given the circumstances.”

“Do you ascribe motivations to people?” i asked. “Do you ever think ‘He’s just pushing my buttons’ or ‘She is so-o-o slow.’ or ‘I can’t believe he did that.’?”

“I always assume people are doing the best they can. Even criminals. Given their circumstances, the circumstances they came from, they are doing the best they can.”

“Even political figures?” i asked.

“Oh sure. Just look at the background that person came from. No wonder they act like that.”

“Wow, ” i said.

“It’s the way i practice compassion,” she said.

Deep compassion. No judgments. Just assume each person is doing they best they can.