Diversity And Unity: Embracing Our Similarities

I had a disturbing knowledge this week, in which a individual was publicly ridiculing me for my spiritual beliefs. I cannot lie, it stung. We all want to be like... Have you ever felt uncomfortable with an individual due to the fact they were diverse than you? Perhaps they had a different ethnic background or skin color, or maybe they had been "book sensible" even though you are much more "street smart". ventrilo Maybe they dressed differently than you do, or possibly you were just repulsed by them and you happen to be not confident why. I had a disturbing encounter this week, in which a individual was publicly ridiculing me for my spiritual beliefs. I can't lie, it stung. We all want to be liked and accepted, and it hurts when we are rejected. I didn't even know this individual, he just took exception to me simply because I was various than he was. He did not give me a opportunity and attempt to locate out if I was somebody he might like to know. He assumed I was not acceptable due to the fact of one particular thing about me that didn't sit nicely with him. Perhaps you have had a similar encounter? Have you been rejected by an individual due to the fact of your religious beliefs, skin color, physique size, ethnic background or some other cause? It doesn't really feel excellent, does it? More than time, such experiences can make us query our own self-worth. What is genuinely taking place when a person is intolerant of another? I think there are two dynamics playing out beneath the surface. 1st, fear of the unknown. If we have no private experience with people of various cultures, religions and societal "classes", we are generally laboring under stereotypes. Webster's New Planet Dictionary defines stereotype as, "a fixed or standard notion or conception". In other words, we have been taught to think particular items about specific kinds of individuals. If you saw a muscular man in a deerskin loincloth carrying a spear and wearing colored paint on his face, what would you think? Savage, proper? If you had been to encounter him while traipsing through the jungle, you would most likely really feel really fearful, and wonder if he meant you harm. For all you know, he may be the doctor or religious leader of his village. If you encountered him on the streets of New York City, you'd most likely assume that he had escaped from a mental institution. Not simply because he is acting insane, but because he seems different than every person else. We worry what we do not know or recognize. Another explanation we worry men and women who are diverse is simply because we often feel threatened by them. If someone's religious beliefs are correct, then ours have to be incorrect. If a certain manner of dress becomes well-liked and we do not stick to along, we are ridiculed and considered to be behind the occasions. We have to drive the appropriate car, buy all the newest electronic gadgets, and move within the proper social circles. This is called "Competitive Thinking". In order for us to be correct, a person else have to be wrong. In order for us to be accepted, we need to reject those who are various than we are. This kind of thinking usually stems from feelings of insecurity. When we feel insecure about ourselves (or aspects of ourselves), we frequently try to act more than-confident, to hide that insecurity from others. In our competitive society, displaying weakness of any kind can be the kiss of death. We frequently feel the require to tear other people down, to develop ourselves up. We can then appear like the "winner". But do we genuinely win in a predicament like that? By tearing an individual down in order to create oneself up, you only succeed in diminishing your personal image. Most individuals will not see you as a Winner, but as a Bully. They could not verbalize it (otherwise you may possibly turn your anger on them!), but they will be thinking it. That is not self-self-confidence, but arrogance. A particular person who is truly self-confident feels no need to tear other individuals down or ridicule or reject other individuals. Rather, they seek to develop other people up, simply because they know that by performing so they create themselves up. A self-confident person is not threatened by someone who is different. They are interested in acquiring to know an individual who is distinct. They see worth in mastering from other people, and sharing with other individuals. No matter how diverse we seem to be from every single other, we have alot a lot more in typical than we feel. I have mentioned many occasions that we are all connected on a spiritual level, and I actually think that. You may possibly have seen glimpses of that from time to time in your own life. Have you ever created eye contact with someone you didn't know, and exchanged a genuine smile with them? It might be in a crowded elevator or at a huge gathering, or even on the street. For one split second, you are Pals with that particular person, even if you have in no way spoken to them. There is an exchange of power taking spot, and you recognize the God inside them, as they also recognize the God inside you. On a far more physical level, we are also really a lot alike in the sense that we all want to be loved and accepted. We all want to supply safety and safety for our families. We all want to live productive, content lives. At our core, we are much more alike than we are different. Strive to concentrate on individuals issues that we all have in prevalent. No matter how diverse an individual appears to be, attempt to recognize the items that make them similar. And honor those things that do make them various. Diversity is a wonderful factor. How extremely boring this globe would be if we had been all precisely alike. I leave you with a well-liked Sanskrit word ~ Namaste ~ (pronounced nah-mah-Keep), which implies "the Divine in me recognizes and bows to the Divine in you". What a beautiful sentiment, to recognize and honor the spark of God in every of us. May possibly we constantly strive to do so in our everyday lives.