Everytime I observed someone from afar, in a Cafe, Pub, Restaurant, Train, High Street, Office, Shop etc, I noticed that my gut gave me positive feedback when I had a positive opinion of a stranger. ‘He seems like a good guy, I bet she’s a nice person’.
And my gut gave me a bad feeling when I had a critical opinion of a stranger, ‘Listen to their accent, they come from a poor part of town’, ‘I don’t like them’, ‘Look at him, he looks rough’. ‘I suspect she has a drink problem’. ‘Keep them away from me’.
‘I’m not giving that homeless person money, it’ll probably be used to buy booze or drugs.’
My gut told me this was the wrong way to think. I am to see past the exterior and look for good in each and every person.
It took time, but now I see good in everyone, feel connected to strangers and have a deeper empathy for others.
With this change in view, strangers began to approach me quite frequently to indulge in small talk pleasantries. It’s brought more happiness and contentment.