I’m going to give you an analogy to work through with me. At the end of this, you should be able to come to an understanding of another’s ideas more quickly and with less cognitive dissonance.
Let’s look at this together. You and I are looking at the same wallet. Now tell me what you see.
You’re wrong. I’m looking at the same thing and you aren’t right. It looks like this.
The objective truth of reality is the entire wallet. Our subjective truth of reality is our perception of the wallet.
When 2 people are faced with differing perceptions of the same reality, you’ll often experience 1 side call the other side wrong, because they’re looking at the same thing and seeing something very different.
Truth is, both people are right.
However, most people will stop trying to understand another’s perspective once it appears to conflict with their own - especially when they believe their perspective is the truth.
In the example of a wallet, it’s quite easy to take into account another’s perspective. You can just flip it around. And the look of a wallet doesn’t affect your life in the slightest, so coming to another conclusion on that wallet is quite a simple feat - it’s ultimately inconsequential to your life.
Navigating the real world, you often won’t be able to simply flip the wallet around.
Instead of a wallet, let’s use a person. Name an acquaintance you like. Maybe someone in a class of yours, church, 2nd cousin, whomever. Let’s call him John.
You know this person. And I know this person.
This person has been good to you. Kind. Attentive. Even caring.