Strength in Exchanging Perspectives
Image Courtesy of Marcos Alvarado
“We are raised to believe that we exist in a hostile universe, so we ought to fear one another and never trust anyone. This ideology is bringing the human race to its knees”
-Tao Te Ching, Translated by Jason Gregory
Some say don’t speak to strangers, and others say a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet.
Either way, most Americans can recall a phrase we swear kept us safe from the time we first started walking to school:
“Stranger danger!”
While being cautious is always advisable, a seemingly harmless side effect happens when we adopt this philosophy as children. And that is the unintentional practice of fear so far into adulthood that we become fearful of our fellow humans.
With less rationality, less conversation, and more judgment, fear can urge us to act without thinking and villainize people's identities or circumstances, simply because we’ve never experienced it before.
I think the root of our fear is a reflection of our vestigial biological instincts when our ancestor’s survival depended on staying with our group. But we no longer live in a hostile world, so why does senseless fear still persist?
Today there is still such haste in categorizing people into a little box and closing our ears to their perspectives and reasoning.
It's as if we are afraid that their tongues hold magical spell casting properties that will erase our own perceptions.
To challenge or relinquish our own perceptions is an act of selflessness.
It invites self doubt, but at the same time, self improvement and new realizations.
As we learn more about the world around us and stories become more visible through the media, we can now more easily see that every person we meet has a story and lessons to go with them.
I sometimes like to think that every person I meet has something to teach me and that I have something to teach them.
This idea keeps curiosity on its toes and celebrates every individual interaction we have.
When fear and distrust are eliminated, ideas big and small can be shared. The space that allows for big and small ideas is called presence. And presence can only exist in our interactions with others when we become fully at peace with whatever we or someone else is experiencing in the moment. This ultimately gives way to intimacy, a factor which is a foundation for long-lasting relationships with our fellow humans.
Each new person you meet gives you an opportunity to see things through new perspectives. Challenging social constructs and learning more about those around us builds empathy so we can value and stand in the shoes of other identities.
Such an intense practice of the heart is especially critical for business owners and non-profit founders who hope to leave the world better than we found it.
The world is in desperate need of business owners and non-profit founders who actively prioritize relationships above missions and dollars.
As business owners and non-profit founders, It’s up to us to set the precedent for the future of human relationships.
Have you been afraid of being rejected (again) by people who don’t resonate with your vision?
Are you holding back on talking with a colleague or teammate about what is or isn’t working?
Or are you simply settling for a smaller reach because you are aware of the challenges and discomfort that come with expanding your organization?
Each of these scenarios will inevitably come up in our lives as we embrace leading with intention.
If you’ve noticed fear is entangled within your leadership, here are a few tips on how you can challenge yourself to be uncomfortable and resolve your fear one conversation at a time for a more humanized business and ultimately, a more caring world:
Create a space where everyone feels comfortable openly sharing their thoughts.
Promote team bonding exercises to ease relationships.
If an employee seems like they are struggling, ask how they are doing and if they would like any help.
Ask employees to list parts of their job they like, don’t like, and what could be functionally improved?
By Arabella Davis