The benefits of accepting those you don’t agree with are the topic of my blog today. Let’s face it, you’re not going to like everyone. Sometimes the feeling is mutual. We meet someone who just rubs us wrong. You’re instant rivals, right down to the barely suppressed sneer and curled lip.
Other times it’s not quite so dramatic. You might be making every effort to build a relationship, but they’re just not having it. Or there’s some previous history standing in the way of a relationship with someone.
Whatever the case, there comes a time to let dislike go. Holding onto animosity, even something so subtle as not wanting to be around a certain individual at work only winds up hurting you in the end. You might be missing out on some hidden benefits by accepting someone you don’t like.
Intrigued? Read on to discover the why of it, and better yet, the how.
The benefits of accepting those you dislike are many:
- Reduces stress caused by the tension within the relationship
- Cuts down anxiety regarding what the other person will say or do
- Frees you from destructive thought patterns regarding this individual
- Allows you to enjoy your relationships fully without worrying about how someone will or won’t react
To get started, you only need to follow these three steps:
- Address Any Fears. Frequently, when we dislike someone, it’s because they’re triggering us somehow. By looking deeper into the emotions being raised, and addressing them, you’ll be able to let go of a lot of the negativity you’re feeling toward them. This is especially true of fears, which have a way of looking like a lot of other things, such as dislike.
- Let Go of the Anger. Much like fears, anger has a way of keeping up a pretense of hearty dislike. This is what happens when you let things fester, especially over something you’ve been holding onto for a while. Pro tip? Try forgiveness. Lay the past to rest between you and try accepting this individual now, at the moment.
- Look for the Good in the Relationship. If you’re caught up in dislike, you might not have noticed there has been a positive impact on your relationship. Look for the things you’ve learned from the individual. Even harsh lessons have a way of guiding us onto new paths, benefitting us in the long run.
Sometimes we do ourselves a great disservice by hanging onto an immediate feeling of dislike for someone. As humans who grow and change, if we allow for it, relationships with those we don’t like can improve. Even if the connection never becomes stronger, accepting that the person is just the way they are will bring more peace into your life.
Thank you for reading this article about the benefits of accepting those you don’t agree with. Learning to accept those you don’t like is a real challenge for many. Remember that it’s better to like than to hate somebody. Until next time my dear readers. Be safe and peace to you all. 🙂
I’m definitely guilty of giving in to my triggers. I hadn’t thought about fear being a part of my triggers, but it’s absolutely true. Thanks for this easy to follow process to accept people I don’t agree with!
Becoming aware of this is extremely good for the soul. As you say, it is a way to let the anger go away and live better!
I agree with you, having people that you don’t agree with around is very beneficial and actually helps to further develop the person’s own ideas.
It’s such an important topic especially with the current political climate. It’s important we learn how to re-communicate our feelings without the stress and hostility. Great post and analysis!
I agree. There are lots of different people out there family, work colleagues and people you generally meet everyday and it is important to accept them for who they are even if you don’t agree with them.
Learning to forgive is just about the most difficult thing to do. Honestly, it is very easy to say “I forgive you,” but the sincerity is lacking. I think it would be best to keep away from each other first to let wounds heal and then slowly try to make contact once more. The trust may no longer be there, but at least you can still be civil with one another. Thank you for this post. I know it will be very helpful for many.
This is super important especially in today’s political climate. Sometimes, it is better for your own mental health to walk away from a conversation.
For me it is better to turn around and walk away for a conversation then to let the other person get to you. Your peace is the most important thing.
Great post. We need to hear more of this today!
I think it depends on the type of disagreement. Sometimes you just need to get and stay away because the level of dislike might not be worth the aggravation!
At times I will listen to them and not comment. What I don’t like is when someone knows you disagree but don’t say anything, they keep it up like they are hoping for a confrontation.
What great suggestions. I also find gratitude for any goodness about the person is very helpful, together with forgiveness practice for ways in which they have deliberately hurt me or others. Thanks for a great piece.
It’s quite impressive topic. If we change our mind in this manner then half of our tensions will remove, and we will be able to live a much better life.