“The way to go from discord to harmony is to go from concentrating on differences
to concentrating on similarities.” ~ Tony Robbins
Human beings are so unique that no two individuals have ever been found to have matching fingerprints, according to the National Forensic Science Technology Center. Our genetic “fingerprint” or DNA, is even more specific. Given that degree of individuality, it’s no surprise that we humans frequently have a hard time getting along with each other. Our differences — race, gender, age, language, education, religion, politics, background, family dynamics, vocation, the list is endless — are all potential sources of discord and division.
Some of us are perfectly OK living in negative, condescending, name-calling, blame-gaming bickering misery for a lifetime. For some, it’s the only way of life they’ve ever known and seems normal. For others, that wretched attitude is a defense mechanism adopted to protect a fragile ego and low self-esteem. And for a few, it’s simply a lifestyle choice.
For those who would prefer not to live in an Archie Bunker script, we’re still prone to find ourselves in situations where we have to mix with others who are dramatically different from ourselves in any number of ways, and that can cause some discomfort.
“Find common ground,” we’re told. Common ground implies that we find places of agreement, and sometimes that’s nigh impossible.
Instead, we can seek similarities. That requires panning out of the camera lens from our usual myopia. The only thing we might have in common with someone is that we’re both bags of skin temporarily animated by a mysterious force we call life. Those bags are filled mostly with water and a handful of chemical compounds so akin to dirt that’s what we return to.
If we do a little curious questioning, we’re likely to find plenty of similarities that can link us together in harmony, at least long enough to accomplish the task or goal at hand.
