Why we should have more conversations with people who are not like us

I 100% believe that you can learn from someone who isn't necessarily like you, if you keep an open mind.

So, I came from a background where everything was religious. I remember on one occasion, when I wanted to go for a picnic, the first question my mum asked me was, 'are they born again', as if to say I couldn't hang out with people who were not. I ended up not going for that picnic.

Then in 2021, I wanted to read a book; but because the author wasn't a household name, I almost ignored the book. But I said to myself, 'why be biased because this author isn't popular'?

You see, being biased can prevent you from learning from other people's wealth of knowledge & wisdom.

Imagine if someone said to you, ''because you're a Christian, I won't listen to what you have to say''. I'd feel awful if someone said that to me. I'd feel like I was marginalized or not given a chance to show my personality. I'm sure you'd feel the same way and it's the same thing for every human being we come across.

I'm not advocating for close friendship with people who are not like you, but what I'm asking you to do is to give people a chance. Get to know them first, before you put on the magnifying glass that makes you see their differences.

If you're narrow minded like I was in the past, there are a few things you can do to help yourself develop an open mind:

UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE HUMAN

The first thing to do is to understand that every person you meet is a human being just like you, so treat them how you'd like to be treated. Imagine that their humanity is their skin, then their qualifiers (e.g. smoker, drug addict, christian, atheist, muslim, skin color, belief system) are just a cloak they put on their skin. If you take those qualifiers away, what do you see? A human being right? That's the first way to accept people.

BE A LOVER OF PEOPLE

Learn to love people from your heart. And how do you love them? By focusing on their good attributes. Are they kind? Wise? helpful? bold? confident? funny? caring? Look for something good about them to love.

LISTEN TO PEOPLE WITHOUT BEING JUDGMENTAL

It's very important to practice listening to people without judging. I'm sure you don't want to be judged for your mistakes. So why not extend that same grace to the people you meet? This by far is one of the ways God has helped me connect with people. I've heard all sorts. People confide in me about things they wouldn't ordinarily share with people. I just listen to them and learn from their stories. In fact, it even helps me respect them.

TRY NEW THINGS

Trying new things is akin to being inquisitive. You can start by trying new food, games, new color of clothes or even visiting new places. You can embark on projects that you've never embarked on before. I've never been interested in politics but I remember that in 2021, I sent in my manifesto for a position in my Uni. This was because I wanted to experience something new. Trying new things opens your mind to a world of possibilities and also helps you accept new opinions, develop new skills and potentials you never knew existed. Ultimately, your willingness to try new things will help you when you meet people who are not like you.

KNOW THAT EVERYONE IS VALUABLE

The mere fact that someone is a human being makes them valuable. Hence, they have something to bring to the table. There's something you can learn from any body you meet. That connect you need for your next job can be from someone who you think has nothing to offer. I remember how someone I never expected, connected me to do a branding job for someone in the US. Learn to value people. Don't despise anyone.

Conclusion

If you open your mind up to meet new people and not be so up-tight with yourself, you'll benefit a lot from them and your personality will become more attractive.