Still, handling human issues can be one of the most complex things you could ever handle. I can think of only one effective way to handle this complexity which is to develop an empathy for others. Or simply, putting yourself in the shoes of others.
A few years back, I was traveling in an impoverished foreign land visiting a local friend of mine. I remembered it was a hot and humid day and I was not in the best of moods that day. Both of us hailed a taxis and was driving to the airport. Along the way, I suddenly yelled at the driver, ” You had not set the meter”. The driver scowled and set it on. On arriving at the airport, the driver charged us $2 more than the usual fare taken to drive to the airport. I was beyond control and was screaming my bloody head off at the driver and accusing him of cheating us, tourists. “It’s only $2,” the driver looked pissed off. In the end, to settle matters, my friend offered to pay the extra $2 on my behalf. Now, it was my friend’s turn to feel my wrath. “Why did you pay that $2? I know $2 is not alot to you but this is a matter of principle!”. What my friend next said totally shut me up and make me return to my humble self again. “You know, it may be only $2 to you. But to the taxi driver, it could be a life saver. Many people like him are very poor in this country and he may have many children at home to feed. Imagine how this $2 could feed how many meals for his family.”
Often times, we become too selfish and are only acutely aware on our own situations and fail to empathize us others. For behind every action lies a reason and many people develop conflicts because they do not dig further into the reason. It was then I discovered how little empathy I had for my fellow human beings. Hence, from then, I consciously told myself to approach others from their point of view. And slowly, I started to develop better relationships with others. All of us have many different lifestyles and viewpoints and it is very difficult to accommodate to different personalities. But if we could be flexible and accommodate to their perception of the world, life will become much better for you, I assure you.
image source http://afrika-raj.ru/kultura-afriki/afrikanskie-deti.html
