I See You
One day it hit me.
Most of the challenges in the world can be traced back to a single problem: the inability to see, respect and humanize other people - The Other. Whether it’s across the political aisle, down the hallway at work, across the racial divide, across town, or on the other side of the gender gap, we typically do a poor job of connecting with other people.
In what some are calling “The Age of Separation,” there are a wide variety of reasons for this - technology, consumerism, self-absorption, divisive media. It’s a worldwide epidemic.
We actually spend a tremendous amount of time thinking about “those people.” Rich. Poor. American. Immigrant. Democrat. Republican. Insider. Outsider. Like a school essay, we’re constantly comparing and contrasting ourselves with everyone.
Exhausting, right?
“Much of our work now is a matter of ‘rehumanizing,’” writes vulnerability expert Brene Brown. “That starts in the same place dehumanizing starts — with words and images.”
And so, some words to consider.
What if we took off the shackles of comparison? What if we looked at life from the perspective of that person -The Other. And we saw they largely wanted the same things we did. To be treated with respect and dignity. Peace and happiness for their family. With enough money to live comfortably.
Just like us.
What if we called upon kindness, grace, understanding, even courage? And when we looked at The Other, instead of declaring our differences, decided “those people” were just like us. Full of hope and desire. Wanting peace and joy.
Give it a try. It might just work.
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Founder Matt Perry has spent a lifetime learning about, teaching, and writing about communication, perspectives and The Other. An award-winning filmmaker, healthcare journalist, and Somatic Coach, he’s spent his professional career observing the complex inner workings of people, organizations and issues to make unseen connections, uncover hidden truths and provide unique solutions.
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