Try to truly empathise with people, even if it takes you out of your comfort zone or goes against what you want/need to believe about people...
Picture yourself in their position - from their perspective not yours... not 'what would I do in that situation?' but 'what would they do in that situation?'... and if you can't relate to their position work hard at it until you can... question, research, analyse, become informed.
To expect or even hope for everyone to do that in every situation, for every stereotype or belief about a person they encounter, is unrealistic. But nonetheless if everyone at least tried to do it as much as possible, and certainly whenever they become aware of an emotional belief (ie delusion or prejudice) that effects how they see and treat a person, the world would be a much better place.
Stereotypes and gut feels - emotional beliefs - are great if you're facing lions and tigers in the wild but in this day and age, when relied on for judging people, they can just lead to prejudice, discrimination, fear, and hate. It needs to stop if we ever want true and lasting peace in the world and our relationships.
Picture yourself in their position - from their perspective not yours... not 'what would I do in that situation?' but 'what would they do in that situation?'... and if you can't relate to their position work hard at it until you can... question, research, analyse, become informed.
To expect or even hope for everyone to do that in every situation, for every stereotype or belief about a person they encounter, is unrealistic. But nonetheless if everyone at least tried to do it as much as possible, and certainly whenever they become aware of an emotional belief (ie delusion or prejudice) that effects how they see and treat a person, the world would be a much better place.
Stereotypes and gut feels - emotional beliefs - are great if you're facing lions and tigers in the wild but in this day and age, when relied on for judging people, they can just lead to prejudice, discrimination, fear, and hate. It needs to stop if we ever want true and lasting peace in the world and our relationships.
