Have you ever wished that some people were different? Do you feel that you are ‘tolerating’ the presence of few people in your life? Think about the people close to you — friends, family, mates — as well as co-workers – in what ways do you wish that people were different?
Depending on who they are, you may wish they’d stop doing things like leaving cabinet doors open in your kitchen, sending you spam messages, or being boastful. Even if it may not affect you directly, for their own sake you do wish that various people you care about were more energetic, less anxious, or less self-critical.
It’s normal to wish that others were different, just like it’s normal to wish that you, yourself, were different (e.g., thinner, richer, wiser). It’s fine to try to influence others in skillful, ethical ways. But problems come when we tip into righteousness, resistance, anger, fault-finding, badgering, or any other kind of struggle.
Every person on this earth is unique for a reason and they have full right to remain so. What would life be..if everyone thought alike??? Universe made everyone different because they all have their own role to play on this earth. They all contribute their parts into the drama of life of the various people they interact with. If they are a part of our life, for sure they have a role here also. And in a drama there are no good and bad roles….there are just roles!! And they are all important!!
If in the epic of Ramayana, all the characters are identical to Ram…thinking and behaving exactly like him, would it be interesting and worth reading? It is important to have people around with different opinions and natures as they add to our perspectives. We need to appreciate those differences rather than holding them against the individual as something wrong.
People are what they are!! They look the way they look, think the way they think, feel the way they feel, love the way they love! They are a whole complex package. Take them… or leave them. Accept them – or walk away! Do not make them feel like less of a person, just because they don’t fit your idea of who they should be and don’t try to change them to fit your mould.
Do you hate a lion for its ferocity or a deer for its timidity? You treat both creatures equally because you understand their nature and accept them for what they are. Then why can’t you accept people as they are? Why do you complain when your parents get angry or your spouse is irritated or a child is shy?
Love and accept the people in your life..just as they are…good or bad!! This acceptance is not unspoken criticism or hard withdrawal, rather a heartfelt acceptance of someone as they are. Accepting people does not itself mean agreeing with them, approving of them, waiving your own rights, or downplaying their impact upon you. You can still take appropriate actions to protect or support yourself or others. Or you can simply let people be. Either way, you accept the reality of the other person. You may not like it, you may not prefer it, you may feel sad or angry about it, but at a deeper level, you are at peace with it.
That alone is a blessing!
