You will never know what is behind the door until you open it

You remember the saying don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

Well I’m pretty sure it’s backed up with you never really truly know someone unless you connect on a more deep and meaningful level.

You see people in and around our worlds are curious. There is a facade and an act. But what is under the exterior? Beyond the book cover that we are not judging? How do we begin reading the book? Without first turning the pages?

Or put another way, how do we open a doorway to finding the real, true and authentic version of the person?

I believe other people are the greatest keys to understanding ourselves. What we see in others, we see in ourselves. This can work in polarising ways or it can work to promote what you already think and know about yourself.

People are not scary and distant, they are full of all the same concerns, worries, anxieties as you. They are full of the same hopes, wishes, dreams as you.

Imagine getting to know someone brand newly in and around your circles. Just put aside your judgements, assessments and opinions. Get to know them for the sake of getting to know their humanness. Who are they as a human being in the world?

Listen as you ask open questions being interested in the person, in what ways do you share common ground?

It will eventually unfold and will even surprise you just how much you have in common. That your motivations and inspiration in life is very similar, that your stories from your past are very similar.

Launching from here you will feel connected. Perhaps even forgive yourself for misunderstanding the person in front of you in the first place.

Our very first perceptions of someone cannot be trusted. We use our fast brains and use short cuts, looking through our filing systems for someone like you. Then we make a match and lock it in, like “guess who” the game.

This is why we have to put aside the things we think we know. Perhaps be curious and ask ourselves how do we know that? We actually know nothing until we ask the someone and get to know them from a safe place of authenticity.

Just consider how much you will miss out on if you don’t try. You might miss out on finding out authentic friendships have been right under your nose the whole time.