I am Tolerant

The Pandemic is a great example and relevant to my personal growth in this area. I have always had a decent ability to show tolerance in most situations, allowing room for improvement. Charitable, patient, enduring, understanding and forgiving are words that come to mind when I think about tolerance. And the Pandemic has certainly presented us all with opportunities to practice and grow in these areas.  

I have increased my ability to look at things more gently and objectively which is greatly needed as there are too people on opposite ends of the fence, creating polarization within families and community. It can be much too easy to get caught up in the emotion and negative energy that exists on both sides. Especially when you feel passionately about something.

One of the things that I was reminded of early on in the Pandemic is the importance of understanding we are all on different life paths and planes of personal evolution. Each and everyone of us is having a similar and yet different experience depending on our personal variables and beliefs. Our past and present experiences help to create our current reality and thus our opinions and actions. A person is not necessarily wrong or right, but possibly at a different time and place in their evolution of life. 

A plant or tree for instance in nature requires sunlight, water and soil to grow. Each can thrive if given the ideal balance of basic needs for their species. As you walk in nature you will come across many variations of circumstances within an environment and subsequent plant development. Some may become more hardy because of difficult growing situations and others may become spindly and underproducing. Some species of plants are better together or can only survive by supporting each other in a symbiotic relationship. These differences make up the natural evolution of life. 

Tolerance is not about being a door mat, but rather knowing when to standing up for your beliefs or when to stand back. My voice does not always need to be heard, but I do exercise that right when it aligns with my values. And I realize that speaking my truth gently, adding words of wisdom and asking purposeful questions can provide a pathway to openness, mutual growth and understanding.