Understand Your Self To Understand Others

Our everyday interactions depend largely on our capacity to judge the other person’s intention, mood, attitude and behavior. We even modify our responses accordingly. But we find that people aren’t easy to understand. The level at which we understand ourselves determines our ability to understand others. However good our relationship is with family, friends or colleagues, sometimes we find their behaviors unpredictable. We feel we just can’t understand their thought process, choices and responses. The extent to which we understand ourselves, plays a huge role in our ability to understand others. 

The following steps will help you become more aware of yourself, so you can better connect with others –

1. Spend a few minutes with yourself daily. Check for positive and negative views you hold about yourself. Gently change every critical thought to love.
2. Remember that people and situations are not responsible for how you feel. They are only a stimulus, your responses are the thoughts, feelings and behaviour which you choose and create.
3. People are victims of their habits and personalities. Even if they are wrong, it’s because of their pain. This knowledge helps you understand and empathize.
4. If there is misunderstanding, change your thoughts about the person. Creating compassion dissolves conflicts.
5. We all carry different habits and personalities. Bringing about any change implies we are going against the old selves and old ways which we had developed over many lifetimes. Give yourself and other people time. Understand the unique challenges each one faces. It is a journey of improvement and empowerment.