What the heck Dave?
I was talking to someone recently while listening to Dave Matthews and I said something like, “I just want to hang out with this dude for one day.”
And he said, “No you don’t, he’s an asshole.”
I started to feel disappointed like awwww man not Dave?! But then I asked, “Wait, how do you know that?”
He then told me a friend of his said so but didn’t recall or have enough detail to elaborate.
And sadly, this is how a lot of our opinions are formed about people. How many times have you heard a one sided story about someone and let that completely change your opinion about that person?
Once we form these opinions and beliefs, not only do we not give that person a chance, we then go and TELL OTHERS and spread these opinions and beliefs and then those people spread them to more people.
Imagine how toxic this can be in a small community like the one in Pensacola?
Try to bring some awareness in and notice when something you may be sharing isn’t helpful or even fully informed.
Give people a chance! You don’t know enough about people to be negative about them. Unless…. you know, they are an ax murderer.
See what you are not seeing. Sometimes, not all the time, when people share negative information about someone, it is so that more people come to their side and so that the person they have an issue with looks bad to their peers. Don’t be mad at these people for doing this or be mad at yourself if you, like me, have been guilty of this at times. Sometimes we do this unconsciously.
Now, I am by no means saying you should never share your experiences with other people. You will know if what you are saying is coming from a productive place based on how you feel sharing it. This article is simply to help you bring awareness in around how you form your beliefs and opinions about people and how you may be contributing to how others form their beliefs —-especially when it comes to people you don’t know or know very little.
Above all - LOVE - just love people. We are all in this together and the more love you share the more you inspire others to do the same.
BK