5 things I learned From Accepting Others’ Differences
Articulating my reflections on Empathy
Looking back at my journey of having to travel some 4000 miles away from home, I had an option to either confront the worldly existence or shatter under the pressure of immense diverseness. It was like undergoing a major reformation in the environmental constraint — The experience was impactful.
The introverted part of me steps aside when I see someone with whom I have little in common, which I believe is not foreign to most.
The problem arises if I react to that difference. It can start with uneasiness, lack of understanding, unwillingness, and eventually a feeling of apathy.
Because of the worldly subsistence of social norms, some of the reasons could be:- Fear, Misunderstanding, Mistrust, and Negative experiences.
We all have our conjecture by which we measure others. We focus so much on whether the other person is meeting our criterion that we forget to accept them for being uniquely flawed and evolving. We forget that it is the imperfections that make us human.
“We were all created in His image, and yet we were each created different and unique. No two people are alike. No hearts beat to the same rhythm. If God had wanted everyone to be the same, He would have made it so. Therefore, disrespecting differences and imposing your thoughts on others is an amount to disrespecting God’s holy scheme.”
-Shams Tabrizi
Practicing acceptance has shown me astounding results. To me, it is foolish to not accept others when my own life is far from perfect. The ability to relate to others with kindness, acceptance, and understanding can transform us. It is a huge asset in personal and professional realms.
Now Let’s quickly dive into some Key learnings:
1. Compassion:
Being indifferent to other people is not always a choice we make. Countless people dismiss someone’s opinion if they get emotional over it; when their viewpoint matters more owing to the emotional experience behind it.
Our previous experiences impact how we think or act, yet I also believe that the more we become conscious about it the better we get in controlling our thoughts.
When I assume people are avaricious, I am often mistaken. Perhaps the person on other side is having a bad day. I need to give people more credit. They often have a good reason for what they do.
2. Greater Personal Growth:
The one and probably the only alternative to indifference is judgment. Judgment is inevitable whether positive or negative.
I live in a working environment that is fairly performance-based, thus judgment somewhere tends to become part of a picture.
I like owning my mistakes and try not to take things personally. I understand that every human has their views, thoughts, and ideas which have 100% right to be expressed.
In most spheres of my life, I interact with people that I not only accept, but admire since they can be far ahead of me in at least one area, if not all areas.
Tony Robbins talks a lot about negative emotions driving from fear and anger. By showing gratitude towards other people, it is very hard to be indifferent towards them.
3. Healthier Relationships:
Finding a way to speak about important things in life is an interesting path.
Last week whilst pondering about the conversations I have had with people this year and last, I felt a sense of deep connection. Once more, it felt at home on the other side of the world away from my home.
Depending on where I go and what person I want to be, I should be able to connect with other humans by breaking the barriers and walls I built around me, without any preconceived notions.
Accepting and celebrating that we are all different is a great way to start.
4. Open-Mindedness:
Educating myself helps me understand that I am more than willing to change and admit mistakes
I try hard not to judge but understand the underlying reason why a person acts or reacts a certain way. I start by seeing things through a natural lens, then stop to think and pick my words wisely.
A study on Humanism and Morality, by Brian Ellis, speaks about saving a lot of energy by just remembering that everyone’s wired differently. Morality is not objective, everyone has their baggage.
5. Other Opportunities:
We are all the products of our background and experiences.
When we get to learn about others and respect the similarities and the differences, we get to understand so much more about the world and about ourselves which helps us grow intangibly.
The more I learn, the more doors of information and opportunities open in front of me, be they meaningful friendships, or a broader understanding of the world I live in.
Last Thoughts
Learning what comes around goes around is elementary. We need to treat others as we want to be treated, which is one of the golden rules we all ignore in life.
