An “open door policy” to others in your personal life is a great way to build positive relationships with others in your life. It allows others to recognize the compassion which you hold for friends. Being open with friends, acquaintances, and complete strangers is a much admired position to take due to the fact that it is difficult for a lot of people to understand the motivations of others. While an open door policy in your life is a good idea concerning the welfare of your friends and building personal self-esteem, it is always essential to know when to draw the line.

An open door policy, especially in the 21st century where many are struggling to find food, shelter, and commodities, can lure mischievous people who only want to take advantage of your generosity. While letting a friend sleep on your couch for a few weeks because they are in the middle of a job transition is okay, it is not okay for the aforementioned “friend” to stay in your house for two months eating all of your food, and not paying rent.

It is up to the individual’s judgment on whether an open door policy is a good idea. If the person who is being helped has a consistent, honest record in their lives, then they most likely will not take advantage of your good nature. If the person has been known to use drugs, lie, cheat, or steal, then avoid being open to them at all costs. While these individuals are often good with people, they are professionals at manipulating people’s emotions.

The mischievous borrowers are often aware that the open door policy is a result of the individual’s want to help others in their society. Sometimes, this can be interpreted as weakness by the individual being helped. It is a common belief that individuals who excessively help others have issues controlling their self-esteem. A manipulative person will always be able to spot this trait in an individual and will attach themselves to the person like a leach in order to suck the generosity of the person with an open-door policy.

While the open door policy works in many situations, it is not a catch-all solution for relationship conflict/resolution. Being able to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people is essential to avoid being trapped into a situation by a friend or significant other. Do to others what you wish others would do to you.