The value that stood out the most was "believing the best" about other people. Think about that for a minute. What does believing the best actually mean? How often when we talk or relate with someone do we believe or assume the absolute best about the other person? What could happen if we did? What would it take to get there? I believe there are three areas we can all improve that will make a difference. Those areas are: How We View Ourselves, How We View Others, and How We Relate and Communicate With Others. The apostle Paul understood as well as anyone what it was like to be deserted, doubted, envied, distrusted and disdained — even by his fellow Christians. If anyone should have had a guarded, cynical view of people, it was Paul. Paul’s confidence wasn’t in God’s people, but in God who indwells his people. He learned to see fallible people through God’s infallible eyes. He was also living out the Golden Rule of treating people how he would want to be treated. All of us want others to believe the very best of us, so why are we reluctant to extend that same courtesy to others? We often think that by not believing the best, we are protecting ourselves from hurt, but this usually becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. When we entertain suspicious, judgmental or critical thoughts, people will most likely mirror those same attitudes and assumptions back toward us. Conversely, if we think kindly and positively toward them — assuming the best — then they usually pick up on that and strive to live up to our noble expectations.