The Hardest Thing In The World — To Understand People
And here’s why
A friend I had known for years recently went rogue. Did I fail to understand him?
As individuals, we are prone to ambiguity, contradictions, and ever-evolving selves channelized by our hidden intentions, past traumas, and subconscious biases. The reason why we are always camouflaging ourselves.
As scary as it might look, it’s also fascinating to realize that we can know a person our entire lives and yet not understand them fully, for knowing and understanding are two different things. That can be a friend, partner, spouse, relative, or neighbor next door.
So, how do we go about understanding someone?
Well, that’s not possible, which is why I call it the hardest thing in the world. But we can patiently await that one pivotal moment that triggers a revelation, enabling us to witness their authentic self — the ultimate face hidden beneath the countless masks they wear in their daily lives.
