A Matter of Perspective
© 2020 GypsyJaguar
Most of us are doing the best we know how and what we feel is right, no matter how we each choose to go about it. We all have our faults and weaknesses. Some of us may be misguided or misinformed, and that's okay, as long as nobody is getting hurt in the process. We're all learning as we go.
Part of that learning is realizing that it may be possible that a few of those people who may seem misguided may very well have some valid points, as well. Another may be discovering, to our own disillusionment, that we may, indeed, be one of the misguided.
"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster." - Friedrich Nietzsche
If we are to defeat the real "monsters" out there, whatever or whoever that may be at the time, we're going to have to work together. And, in order to work together, we need to be a little more understanding and forgiving of each other's ways of going about things. Therein is where compromise can be reached and change can therefore be initiated.
Just because someone believes differently than you, doesn't mean that one of you has to be wrong. Maybe from where the other person's standing, they are seeing life in a completely different way. Maybe what they believe makes more sense to their compiled rationalizations about life. Based on their experiences and what they've learned and witnessed, their viewpoint seems the most logical to them. The only way you might be able to understand where they're coming from is to live life in their shoes, looking at life through their eyes, hearing with their ears, processing thoughts through their brain, and so on.
"Don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins [/shoes]." -popular idiom*
Differing opinions are often just a matter of perspective. If one person is looking at a small pyramid from ground level, the pyramid is going to look completely different from how it looks from a viewpoint directly over it. To the ground-level observer, the pyramid would have a 3-dimensional triangular shape to it, but, to the overhead observer, it may look like a simple, two-dimensional square. Just because the overhead observer sees a different shape, does not necessarily mean what they see is wrong, merely because it's not what is generally accepted. It's right to them...to their perspective. A pyramid does look like a square from above. Therefore, both observers may be correct in their differing observations, based on their individual points of perspective.
Disagreeing with others is completely normal and should be dealt with with healthy expression. Debating ideas and concepts with impassioned discussions is healthy. Anger-filled arguing and throwing hurtful accusations and assumptions around is not healthy. One is not necessarily right or wrong, per se, as eating unhealthy foods versus healthy foods is not necessarily wrong versus right. Yet, we would not want to put unhealthy foods into our body on a regular basis, as that would be harmful to us, just as habitually hurting people's feelings would be harmful, as well.
So, the next time you have a disagreement with someone, keep in mind that it may not be a matter of right versus wrong; you each may just be looking at things from different perspectives.
*The popular quote "Don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins [/shoes]." is often contributed to various Native American tribes, but may actually have come from a poem written by Mary T. Lathrap in 1895. The original title of the poem was Judge Softly, popularly known as Walk a Mile in His Moccasins. - source: jamesmilson.com
Judge Softly
by Mary T. Lathrap, 1895
Pray, don’t find fault with the man that limps,
Or stumbles along the road.
Unless you have worn the moccasins, he wears,
Or stumbled beneath the same load.
There may be tears in his soles that hurt
Though hidden away from view.
The burden he bears placed on your back
May cause you to stumble and fall, too.
Don’t sneer at the man who is down today
Unless you have felt the same blow
That caused his fall or felt the shame
That only the fallen know.
You may be strong, but still the blows
That were his, unknown to you in the same way,
May cause you to stagger and fall, too.
Don’t be too harsh with the man that sins.
Or pelt him with words, or stone, or disdain.
Unless you are sure you have no sins of your own,
And its only wisdom and love that your heart contains.
For you know if the tempter’s voice
Should whisper as soft to you,
As it did to him when he went astray,
It might cause you to falter, too.
Just walk a mile in his moccasins
Before you abuse, criticize and accuse.
If just for one hour, you could find a way
To see through his eyes, instead of your own muse.
I believe you’d be surprised to see
That you’ve been blind and narrow minded, even unkind.
There are people on reservations and in the ghettos
Who have so little hope, and too much worry on their minds.
Brother, there but for the grace of God go you and me.
Just for a moment, slip into his mind and traditions
And see the world through his spirit and eyes
Before you cast a stone or falsely judge his conditions.
Remember to walk a mile in his moccasins
And remember the lessons of humanity taught to you by your elders.
We will be known forever by the tracks we leave
In other people’s lives, our kindnesses and generosity.
Take the time to walk a mile in his moccasins.
Also see:
The Grey Areas - Rediscovering Yourself - Social Savvy - The People Around Us and What They Can Teach Us - Body Language - The Tell-Tale Walk - The Company We Keep - A Bit of Advice - A Matter of Perspective - Being A Good Friend - How To Truly Help Others - Courtesy and Respect - Nice Is Not Always Kind - End the Drama Once and For All - Toxic Relationships
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