In life, we’re all terminals transmitting data. Each of us has our own experiences that we have gone through and utilize those experiences into the messages that portray ourselves. We then use that data to communicate.
Since each and every one of us is a terminal that is designed to transmit data, there is no such thing as a “superior” being. We’re all equals, built with the same hardware the other terminals have.
Sure, we may have different experiences that segregate ourselves from others, but at the end of the day, there is a triangle that directly correlates to whom we like and dislike.
On this triangle, there are three key areas:
Affinity. Our liking of each other.
Reality. Our perspective on the world.
Communication. How much or how well we communicate with each other.
These three areas are directly correlated to each other. When one area rises, the others do as well. When one falls short, so do the other two.
If you two can’t see eye to eye, then there is no reason to feel hurt. You just need to locate someone who can see the world in the same way you do, or acquire more experiences to better transmit the data that you acquire.
So, when you have to react to someone saying that you are less than them, the best thing to do would be to ask “why?”.
This will bring you to understand why they feel the way that they do. This will shed light to their reality.
The next question would be, “What can I do to live up to be more like you?”
This will allow you the opportunity to see where you fall short, according to their perspective.
At that time, you will have to make a choice.
A. To become better and meet the standards that they expect of you.
B. To keep living the way you do and find someone who appreciates you for you.
Don’t take things personally. Everyone does things for their own motives. Most things said aren’t meant to hurt you directly. They’re just terminals with experience that they compiled over the years. Some good. Some bad.
You’re a wonderful person and you will always be, no matter what anyone thinks of you.
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Originally posted on Quora.
Leonard Kim is Managing Partner at InfluenceTree. At InfluenceTree, Leonard and his team teach you how to build your (personal or business) brand, get featured in publications and growth hack your social media following.
“Don’t take things personally. Everyone does things for their own motives. Most things said aren’t meant to hurt you directly. They’re just terminals with experience that they compiled over the years. Some good. Some bad.”
SO true!
It surely is!
So, you mean, don’t do something rash like “an eye for an eye”? :/
Well, definitely there’s some merit to what you’re saying. Don’t take things personally, and just move on. Find somebody else that doesn’t treat you like dirt.
I just wish people would understand that simple concept – if I had a dollar for every time people got pissed at me for saying something that “hurt” or upset them, I’d be a rich person. People sometimes can be very sensitive and twist things that are said without any malice. Or…people perhaps just love drama in their lives.
Either way, I get the sense human beings embrace the concept of firing shots back whenever they feel like they’ve been talked down to – when it’s just a simple matter of us not seeing eye to eye on the topic being discussed.