The Key To Peaceful Relationships: Honoring Separate Realities (guest post)

The Key To Peaceful Relationships: Honoring Separate Realities

By Dr. Larry Senn

Think about the last argument you had with a loved one. Chances are, it was because you saw, experienced, or truly believed something that was different from the other person. Most confrontations, arguments, break ups, and irritations stem from seeing things differently from others.

Many of this day to day irritation, anger, blame, and self-righteousness (as well as anything on the bottom half of the Mood Elevator) can be avoided by a simple concept called Honoring Our Separate Realities. A lot of needless conflicts can be avoided if we just remember certain truths about life:

·         Things are not always the way they appear to us

·         Others inevitably see things differently

·         Our views and judgments are shaped by our backgrounds and experiences, as are the views and judgments of others

·         It’s generally impossible to say who is “right” or “wrong” when matters of opinion and perspective are involved

Everyone lives in a separate reality- and the only reasonable thing we can do as mature individuals is to respect those realities. If we don’t respect other’s realities, we risk living on the judgmental/blaming floor on the Mood Elevator- in this stage you will be much more argumentative, irritable, and angry. In addition, if you truly believe you are right and others are wrong all the time you will experience much less growth and learning because you believe you have all the answers and won’t be open to new ideas.

How do we honor other’s realities?

• As with most things, the first thing is to be aware that every person sees the world through their own set of glasses and their viewpoint has been determined by their beliefs and life experiences. What they see is what they see. It’s not right or wrong; it is what it is. This doesn’t mean that you can’t eventually have a conversation with them to understand how they see things but the conversation will go much smoother if you first understand that what they see may be very different from what you see and that’s OK, and to be conscious that practicing this principle can lead to increased happiness and more time up the Mood Elevator. We’ve heard the phrase, “Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?” That doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t be both, but the focus should be on being happy. So how do we do that?

The next step is to pause when we hear someone saying something we disagree with. Then ask yourself the following questions internally.

·         What is their thinking? Why do they see it differently?

·         How has their background, their experiences, or their education shaped their worldview so that they perceive something I don’t perceive?

These questions shouldn’t focus on who is right or who is wrong. These questions serve to open your mind to understanding how that person sees the world as well as opening your mind to new information, perspectives, and even relationships if you allow yourself to try to see something from a different perspective.

Another way to honor others’ realities is by being conscientious of how you communicate with others. By making it clear that what you are saying reflects your personal point of view rather than implying to others you know the absolute truth- you’ll come off as less dogmatic and certain. Use phrases like:

·         It appears to me…

·         The way I see it…

·         From my point of view…

·         I think…(versus I know)

·         If I’m not mistaken…

·         I may be wrong, but…

By taking the time to listen and communicate in a way that will help guide you to honor other’s realities you will experience more time up The Mood Elevator. As with many pointers out of my book, use your feelings as your guide. When we are overly certain about our opinions and ideas, we tend to experience such feelings as defensiveness, judgment, self-righteousness, and impatience with others. Become acquainted with these emotions and learn to recognize them when they pop up. They are signs that you have stopped listening and learning and instead are shutting out people and possibilities. When this happens, stop talking, sit back, take a deep breath, and try to shift to a mood of curiosity and interest.

About Dr. Larry Senn

Dr. Larry Senn pioneered the field of corporate culture and founded in 1978, Senn Delaney, the culture shaping unit of Heidrick & Struggles. A sought-after speaker, Senn has authored or co-authored several books, including two best-sellers. His newest is The Mood Elevator (August 2017), the follow up to his 2012 book, Up the Mood Elevator. You can learn more about Larry and his work at his website, www.themoodelevator.com.