Trying to understand someone you can’t stand – not agree with them, just understand – can actually make you a better thinker and decision-maker while reducing your own biases.
The story
There’s someone in your life you can’t stand. Maybe it’s a coworker who undermines you. A family member with opposite politics. Someone who hurt you and never apologized.
What if trying to understand them – not agree with them, just understand – could actually make your life better?
When we genuinely try to see through someone else’s eyes, even when it feels impossible, something unexpected happens. We develop greater capacity for understanding different perspectives. We become better thinkers because we’re forced to consider viewpoints beyond our own comfort zone.
Our decision-making can improve. When we use cognitive empathy – understanding someone’s perspective rather than just feeling their emotions – we reduce bias in our thinking. We reduce our own prejudices without even trying. And surprisingly, we often find common ground where we thought none existed.
The hardest part? Empathy doesn’t mean you’re endorsing someone’s behavior or beliefs. It just means you’re willing to listen deeply enough to understand why they think what they think. That’s it.
This practice takes effort. It’s uncomfortable. But it transforms how we navigate conflict, make choices, and connect with others – even the difficult ones.
If you’re ready to rewire how you approach the people who challenge you most, “A Practical EmPath Rewire Your Mind” offers a concrete path forward. It’s not about becoming a pushover. It’s about becoming someone who can hold their ground while genuinely understanding the person across from them.
