First, do no harm

I have recently learned that it is a myth that the phrase, "first, do no harm" forms part of the Hippocratic Oath. It is, however, a phrase that I love and that I think can serve us all in all our lives.

If I asked you to think about who you have had an impact on today what would be the answer? I suspect that for many it would be a resounding "no-one". For those of you for whom this is the case I would like to suggest otherwise. Indeed for those of you who came up with more than no-one I would also like to suggest otherwise. I believe that the majority of us live our lives not consciously aware of the impact that everything we do has on someone, somewhere.

Let me tell you a brief story by way of example:

When I was a student I had a part-time job on the deli counter of a supermarket. On the whole the managers in the supermarket were perfectly pleasant, affable people doing a fine job. However, I began to notice that they were also, on the whole, completely oblivious to any impact their actions towards the staff had. And it wasn't just the big stuff that had the impact. It is easy to see how a word of acknowledgement or a request asked the right way altered the very being of the staff. Quite simply, treated well and with respect the staff would leave at the end of a shift happy, smiling and ready to go back to their families, or wherever, in a good mood. And vice versa.

Fairly obvious stuff surely. But have you thought about the bigger picture? The knock-on effects. It is all too easy to imagine a scenario where one of these staff members goes home in a bad mood because of something that happens at the workplace, argues with their partner, shouts at the kids, who know what else. And then what? Their partner is now in a bad mood and goes off to meet his mates in the pub and ends up in an argument, a fight, even. And so on, and so on.

Does this sound far-fetched? Perhaps the above is purely the output of my overactive imagination. Or perhaps it's not. What happened the last time you went home in a bad mood? Or came to work in a bad mood? Or vice versa. Do you know how far the way something you have said or done or the way you have said or done it has gone? And is still going.

After my time at the supermarket I was left with one very clear thought. Even if you aren't able to make a positive impact on someone else, make sure you are not making a negative one.

I invite you to go out in your lives and adopt this motto, first, do no harm.