Tolerance Can Lead to Peace and Happiness

Alice Warner

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28 Nov 2022

Tolerance is an important virtue to cultivate, as it helps you build better relationships and create a more peaceful world. Striving to be more tolerant of others, no matter their differences, is not easy, yet it is essential if you want to make your world a better place.

What Does Tolerance Entail?

Tolerance is more than just accepting others' differences; it requires respect and understanding. It means recognizing while people may have different beliefs, values or lifestyles, you can still accept them as fellow human beings. In other words, you can disagree without being disagreeable.

Being tolerant also involves developing empathy and an openness to dialogue. It means listening to others without judgment, while at the same time being willing to accept criticism. And it's important to remember tolerance doesn't mean you have to agree with someone else’s views; rather, it simply means you can accept differences in opinion and beliefs without becoming angry or confrontational.

What is Active and Passive Tolerance?

Active tolerance involves actively working to create a more tolerant world. This could involve participating in or organizing protests, rallies and other events which aim to promote the acceptance of diverse cultures and beliefs. It also includes working to end discrimination and intolerance in your life, as well as speaking out against injustice when you see it.
Passive tolerance, on the other hand, may involve simply tolerating another person's beliefs without actually taking any steps to promote understanding and acceptance. This could involve simply not engaging in debates about religion or politics and avoiding conversations which may lead to conflict.

How Can You Become More Tolerant?

Becoming tolerant is a journey that requires a lot of patience and understanding. Here are some steps you can take to become more tolerant:

1. Be Aware of Your Biases

Examining your own beliefs, values and opinions to understand where they come from and why they might be causing you to be intolerant is the first step. Your prejudices can be based on experiences you have had in the past or societal norms. Once you become aware of your own biases, you can begin to understand how your views might be hindering you from being tolerant.

2. Listen Intently

Listening actively is a key component of being tolerant. This means taking the time to listen to others and allowing them to express their opinions without interruption. It is important to remember that everyone has different life experiences and perspectives, so being open-minded and trying to understand their views can help you become more tolerant.

3. Don't be Afraid to Ask Questions

Asking questions will help you understand someone else’s point of view better and it can also help build trust between people. Learning about someone’s background and experiences can help you find common ground.

4. Treat Others as You Would Like to be Treated

Treat others with respect and kindness, regardless of their beliefs or opinions. Remember everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

5. Respect Others’ Views

Part of being tolerant is recognizing while your beliefs or opinions may be different than someone else’s, they are still valid. This also means refraining from making personal attacks or belittling anyone’s opinion.

6. Practice Open-Mindedness

Make a conscious effort to have an open attitude and be willing to look at things from multiple perspectives. Being open-minded is challenging, but it is essential to be tolerant.

7. Take Time for Reflection

Take a few moments each day to reflect on your thoughts and feelings. Ask yourself if you are reacting to something out of fear or anger and try to understand why you feel that way. This can help you uncover underlying feelings and gain a better understanding of yourself.

8. Take Responsibility for Your Action

When you make a mistake or say something which comes off as intolerant, it is important to accept responsibility and apologize. Taking ownership of your actions shows humility and respect for the person you may have wronged.

Tolerance is essential for creating a world that is accepting of differences. Creating a tolerant environment requires an understanding of different perspectives and a commitment to respect others. By being aware of your biases and working on building trust, you can make a difference and become a better person. At the end of the day, understanding and embracing differences is what tolerance is all about. Taking steps to become more tolerant is essential to creating a peaceful world. So, let’s all work together to make tolerance a priority.