Is RECIPROCITY Still The Way To Go?

 

IS RECIPROCITY STILL THE WAY TO GO?  I'd quip, YES and NO.  YES because, even our forefathers and previous generations, they all cascaded down the line that we should embrace RECIPROCITY, unconditionally.  BUT here's the thing.  Things are NOT getting simpler and life itself is NOT just purely X's and O's anymore📗📙📘

Putting things in the right context, RECIPROCITY is a process of exchanging things with other people to gain a mutual benefit.  That norm of RECIPROCITY has evolved to become a social norm WHERE if someone does something for you, you then feel kind of obligated to return the favor.  BUT the thing here is that, generally, people tend to feel 'OBLIGATED' to return favors after people do favors for them as well.  Time to flip things💥💥💥

WHAT IF someone frequently does you a disservice.  OR to put things bluntly, WHAT IF someone continues to hurt you [WHETHER that's verbally, emotionally OR otherwise] premeditatedly?  OR WHAT IF a work colleague continues to give you that 'cold shoulder' in official functions OR even right in front your bosses.  OR WHAT IF you really thought someone deserves to be your close friend BUT in reality, that person seems to be intentionally hurting you by his/her behaviors and manifestations?  Someone might scream here like "IT'S A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH".  Oooops, let cooler heads prevail here💚💛💜

NOW, if you throw back those scenarios right in my face, HOW do I handle it?  This is WHERE my take here is that we need to 'tweak' reciprocity based on the circumstances at hand.  IF someone continues to hurt you [even as you're flabbergasted as to WHY], pull the brakes and figure things out WHY.  If you work in tandems and yet your supposed partner at work continues to do the opposite things on you, pull-in your partner for a 1-on-1 and for validation, if your observation is correct and if so, WHY IS IT SO???

Our takeaway:  RECIPROCITY is NOT akin to 'one size that fits all'.  Instead, we need to handle each situation uniquely, factoring-in the circumstances at hand.  Worst thing we should be watchful of is NEGATIVE RECIPROCITY when another person is trying to eke out OR extract something from you more than WHAT he earlier extended over to you.  So, while RECIPROCITY IS STILL THE WAY TO GO, let us not practice it 'hook, line and sinker'❎❎❎