Underestimation
Daily Meditation #210–9/20/2022
We tend to believe we have people we would identify as “enemies” in the world.
Perhaps to some degree it’s true — there are actual murderers and people who are several standard deviations beyond the “norm” for ideological possession who would harm us.
However, a majority of those we may misperceive as enemies are not.
People of different religions.
Those of opposing political beliefs.
Others who have chose lifestyles we could never possibly imagine.
We mislead ourselves into a belief they are “just idiots” or aren’t educated enough or even that we are superior.
Firstly — you very likely have no true “enemies.” Abolish the thought.
Secondly — don’t underestimate those you oppose.
Even if you strongly disagree with or even abhor someone, never allow yourself to fall into the trap of believing them to “simply be an idiot.”
Be openminded to the possibility they are not only more intelligent than you, but also…
They could potentially be right!
Now, you don’t need to abandon the beliefs you hold.
You don’t even need to like the other person or like their beliefs.
But, you should strive to be humble enough to acknowledge you can certainly stand to learn from them.
Don’t underestimate others.
Follow for daily philosophical meditations.
These are distillations from my coming book “YouDaimonia: the Ancient Philosophy of Human Flourishing.”
