"When you plant lettuce and i t does not grow well , you don't blame the let t uce. You l ook for reasons it is not do i ng we l l. It may need fertilizer, or more water , or l ess sun. You never blame the l ettuce. Yet , if we ha v e prob l ems with our friends or fam i ly (or s t udents or co - workers), w e blame the other person . But, if we know how t o take ca r e of them, they will grow we ll , li ke the lettuce. B l aming has no pos iti ve effect at all , nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument . I f you understand, and you show that you understand, the si t ua t ion w i l l cha n ge ." - Thich Nhat Hanh