Tolerance is the ability to embrace others’ attitudes and opinions that may contrast with ours without suffering from it.
And in a world (both real and social) where we constantly come into contact with ideas different from our own, it is a fundamental key to living better.
If we want to talk about it in other terms, we could think of tolerance as the acceptance of diversity or as the ability to understand and be open to the fact that there is not a single truth (ours).
Think about it: when many people hear opinions different from theirs, their first reaction is often annoyance.
It happens because they take that thought not so much as the idea of that person but as an accusation against them.
“If they have different ideas than mine, then they must think I am wrong,” and so, as a defense, the tone of voice rises, accusations are made, or silence ensues.
And farewell to tolerance.
Instead, being tolerant brings many more advantages. Here’s how.
How to Handle the Fear of Others’s Judgment
Why Tolerance Allows Us to Live Better
It Improves Relationships
Those who are tolerant usually have excellent emotional intelligence.
True tolerance comes from understanding others, empathy, and keeping in mind that on the other side, there is a person with a story that also tells about their ideas.
In return, you will have the advantage of feeling deeply involved in the situation, having a substantial exchange that can become a source of mutual enrichment.
Bonds are strengthened, and mutual exchange will be enjoyable.
Tolerant People Have More Friends
Tolerance exists only if the thought is put into action.
In itself, this already leads to being in control of the situation and gaining many more points during a discussion.
Those who are tolerant are usually well-trained to develop their ideas, present them sensibly, and accept what is said without judgment.
Everyone would like to have such a person by their side.
Tolerance trains empathy
Intolerance leads to open conflicts, unsolicited judgments, emotional detachment, fake or convenience relationships.
Tolerance, on the other hand, leads to meaningful discussions, the exchange of opinions, authentic relationships. There is no need to necessarily respect the ideas, but where the decision is to respect the person.
Those who are tolerant will have developed the ability to put themselves in the other’s shoes and feel that humanity that brings people closer without confusing them.
This article first appeared on Grazia.it – Author: Elisa Castellano
