The world would be a vast place of harmonious prosperity ONLY IF WE UNDERSTOOD life through the eyes of other people. If I was the president of any country, I would try seeing and understanding the world through the eyes of other countries that are suffering from poverty, war-torn, nuclear war, and other things that relate to the fall of a Kingdom/Country.
As the days go on, there’s rhetoric being spewed everywhere; from the Gambian president saying “if you want sex, go to Thailand,” to Thai citizens retorting in the most disgusting fashion with racial hatred. All of this: colorism, racism, fanaticism, religionism, culturalism, fascism, and all other ‘isms,’ is what’s separating not only the countries of the world from each other, but our daily lives.
Remember the reference I made to a colleague that didn’t see life through my eyes? I, being from Las Vegas, was completely gutted after the terrorist attack that happened last October. I erupted in front of my students because they giggled about it. That next month, the “head teacher” tried putting blame on me to why it happened. I was appalled. That same individual, within the matter of minutes, began to say that racism doesn’t exist at these companies, although I’ve talked about it a plentiful of times for years. This is the problem with the very old generations, especially from England and especially wife-tourists. The bulk of the racism in Thailand comes from anglos; and also in China, too. When we fail to have empathy for one another, conflict happens.
As you learn to listen deeply to other people, you will discover tremendous differences in perception. You will also begin to appreciate the impact that these differences can have as people try to work together.
You see the young woman; I see the old lady. And both of us can be right.
You may look at the world through spouse-centered glasses; I see it through the money-centered lens of economic concern.
You may be scripted in the abundance mentality; I may be scripted in the scarcity mentality.
You may approach problems from a highly visual, intuitive, holistic approach right brain paradigm; I may be very left brain, very sequential, analytical, and verbal in my approach.
Our perceptions can be vastly different. And yet we both have lived with out paradigms for years, thinking they are “facts” and questioning the character or the mental competence of anyone who can’t “see the facts.”
One time I got unbelievably frustrated at work about 8 years ago because I wasn’t getting any help from everyone. The practice manager immediately called me in and sat me down. We (me and the new assistant) didn’t understand our roles in the practice. It was becoming more confusing as the days went on, so this hearttalk and having the practice manager see what I was going through – through my eyes – made him understand the situation.
SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND
Arsenio's ESL Podcast 
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