Stop Expecting YOU from Others

"You cannot expect you from other people."  I’m sure that most, if not all of us have at one point heard or even said this quote.  It is so easy to want others to think like us, and have the same morals as us, but it all comes down two words; individuality and diversity.  As individuals, we were all raised different.  Even if you were raised similarly to someone else, it is usually never the exact same as we are all uniquely diverse.

Multiple siblings could be raised in the same household, yet each one could turn out vastly different in how they go about their lives, how they think, and so on.  As humans, it is natural to want others to think like you do, or believe in what you believe in.  However, when we embrace the diversity and individualism in others within our interactions, it could cultivate more meaningful relationships and open communication.

Oftentimes, when we hear the opinions of others whether it be politics or religion, which as we know are two of the most debated topics, if they do not align with what we think, we tend to think they are wrong.  However, in reality, they are no more wrong than you are right.  The way in which you were raised does tend to shape many of your morals, beliefs, and values, although as we get older, sometimes we shift from what we may have been taught. 

Because most of us hold onto our beliefs so strongly, it sometimes causes us to project our own thoughts and behaviors onto others, believing that there is only one way to be or act, based on our own personal experiences and how we view the world.  However, this assumption only leads to distress within ourselves, with the expectation that others will react similarly. 

As an example, let’s say that you see something that you deem horrific and it upsets you, yet the person next to you has no reaction.  You may think that they are cold hearted, unfeeling or even unsympathetic, when in reality, they may be none of those things.  Perhaps they just react differently than how you would expect someone to react in that circumstance.

While it is natural to want others to behave or respond in a certain way, we need to accept that people may not always act how we want.  It is important to recognize that everyone operates, thinks, and goes about their day differently.  Just remember that you cannot expect you from other people.