The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘understanding’ as a sympathetic awareness or tolerance.
Sometimes we look at situations, or people, and make assumptions without knowing all the details. We assume that things are one way, but when the facts present themselves, they are completely different from what we had thought.
If we try to understand circumstances and a person’s reasoning, we may be surprised by the outcome.
John Steinbeck said, “Try to understand men. If you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and almost always leads to love.”
If we make an effort to understand, we become so much more open-minded and accepting. If we are not willing to understand or be accepting then we will never move forward; we will be stuck in a bitter and dark place.
In JK Rowling’s book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Albus Dumbledore said, “Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery”.
You may know what you see and what you have been told, but that doesn’t mean you understand. There is always more than meets the eye. Albert Einstein said, “Any fool can know. The point is to understand.”
