When we seek to find true happiness, more often than not, the obstacles to that goal lie within ourselves. And it has to do with how accepting we are of others.
Our attitudes become our roadblocks, keeping us from enjoying fully the experiences waiting for us.
The biggest culprit? The way we treat those around us.
Think about that person in your life who drives you absolutely crazy.
Whether co-worker, acquaintance, or family member, there’s nothing worse than having to deal with someone who gets under your skin.
The problem is, you can’t change the people around you.
You can, on the other hand, change you.
By learning to accept people for who they are, you’ll find your interactions with these individuals will become easier.
You’ll be more easygoing, and less likely to get bent out of shape.
In short, you’ll become happier and experience far less stress.
Sound too easy? It really is. Just start with these three steps for accepting people who they are:
Recognize Everyone is Unique
When we feel secure in how we’re living our lives, it’s natural to think others should do as we do.
For example, if you went to college, got a degree, and then got a job, you might expect your children to follow the same path.
The truth is, not everyone’s path is going to look like yours.
Your child may not be suited to college or has other ambitions after high school.
Does this make them wrong?
When we recognize everyone is unique and has their own path to follow, it becomes easier to accept them for who they are.
It’s Okay to Disagree
Sometimes we see someone we love making choices we’re not comfortable with.
Going back to the college example, maybe we’re worried that if our child takes a year off to travel to “find themselves” that they’ll never go back to school.
When the person you disagree with is an adult, and they’re not doing something to physically harm themselves or someone else, it becomes time to back off.
Rather than feeling threatened or disappointed in their choices, ask yourself what you might be able to learn from them.
Their unique point of view is something to celebrate.
After all, if we all made the same decisions all the time, things would be pretty dull.
What About You?
In the end, if you’re caught up in how other people are living their lives, you’re focusing your attention in the wrong place.
The only person you can actually change is you.
Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and start paying attention to different choices you could make that would create more joy in life.
With this in mind, you’ll find it easier to accept the people around you.
By becoming more accepting of others, we reframe our thoughts, as well as our feelings.
We learn to let go of negative attitudes and dissatisfaction in our personal interactions and start to enjoy the process of meeting new people.
We become happier with this one small change.
Ok, so, what if it’s not just one person?
What if you find yourself not being very accepting in general?
So, I have a couple more thoughts about that to help you be more accepting
Guard Your Thoughts
Acceptance begins with the thoughts going through your head.
When you look at someone else, what’s your first thought?
Are you immediately judgmental?
It might be time to examine some of these messages and ask yourself where they came from.
Are you reflecting what you’ve heard from someone else or the media?
Remind yourself it’s up to you to develop your own thought patterns and guide yourself over to more non-judgmental thoughts.
Learn to Look on the Bright Side
Seeing only the negative in the people around you?
Find something positive to focus on instead.
Ask yourself what you like about this person. Find their good traits or something to admire.
Soon this will become a habit, leading toward a more positive outlook whenever you meet someone new.
Avoid Black and White Thinking
There are a lot more gray areas in the world than you might think.
Rather than insisting there’s a definite “right” and “wrong” to a situation, take a step back and ask yourself if this is truly the case.
You’re going to find out not everything is so cut and dried.
Drop the Perfectionism
Frequently, when we expect a lot from ourselves, we likewise expect a lot from the people around us.
Learn to let go of this rigid, perfectionistic thinking.
This leads you to more acceptance of others and makes your own life more enjoyable.
Live in the Moment
When you get caught up in the past, it’s hard to see a person where they are now.
Maybe they’ve screwed up the relationship before or done something else to hurt you.
Let it go and move on.
Accept people for where they are today.
Put the Shoe on the Other Foot
How are you judging that other person? Would you like it if someone had that thought about you?
If you don’t like the answer, it’s time to change your thought processes.
By employing these strategies, you’ll find both your mind and your horizons expand.
You’ll discover contentment you never knew was possible.
Acceptance of others, regardless of their differences, makes life richer and fuller than you ever imagined.
Who knows, maybe you’ll feel a little happier with who you are as well.
Now I’d love to hear from you.
Do you find yourself sometimes being judgmental and not so accepting of those around you?
What kinds of things help you to remember to be more loving and accepting?
Or, maybe it’s one specific person who gets on your nerves. What helps you interact with them more easily?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
I would love to hear your stories.
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