Turn villains into humans. When you find yourself labeling or otherwise vilifying others, stop and ask: “Why would a reasonable, rational, and decent person do what this person is doing?” This particular question humanizes others. As we search for plausible answers to it, our emotions soften. Empathy often replaces judgment, and depending upon how we’ve treated others, personal accountability replaces self-justification.
This is a powerful insight. We are all heroes of our stories and it is easy to misunderstand the other person. So let’s remind ourselves to always ask why will a reasonable, rational and decent person do what this person is doing.
