Tolerance

Tolerance is a positive attitude towards life, which translates into trust, listening, courage, and creativity. It is not a subjective concept or an unchangeable aspect but a conscious approach, the starting point for building a set of qualities that can increasingly make a difference.

Respect, dialogue, and cooperation between cultures, peoples, and individuals are indispensable principles for the protection of human rights and peaceful coexistence.

Tolerance is openness to reciprocity, harmony in difference, and recognition of the complex identity of people, groups, and states.

To be tolerant it is essential to start from the idea that each of us is different in appearance, language, opinions, behavior, and values and that this “difference” generates respect, acceptance, and esteem, instead of denial, rejection, and hatred. From this perspective, tolerance is therefore not an innate characteristic in people, but a mental attitude, an emotional feeling, which can (and must) be trained and strengthened.

Tolerance is curiosity towards the coexistence of opinions, attitudes, ideas, and lifestyles different from one’s own, and acceptance of one’s own and others’ uniqueness.

When the individual recognizes the other, he demonstrates cognitive flexibility and a propensity towards mutual compromise. It creates the conditions so that relationships can be nourished not only by agreement but also by disagreement and diversity.

Practicing tolerance represents a conscious action, that arises from mutual recognition, mutual exchange, and being in a relationship with someone other than oneself. Being tolerant means being people-in-relationships, being on a journey towards each other, mutually recognizing one’s own and others’ differences, individuality, opinions and beliefs, to create a bridge that encourages dialogue and allows everyone to be himself with the other.

I don’t mean to say that conflicts are always avoidable. Instead, they are inevitable and, as such, must not and cannot be ignored or opposed. What we can do is transform conflicts in a generative way, learning to mend bonds wounded by hostilities.

What is possible is to take care of interpersonal relationships by promoting mutual knowledge and respect, thus creating fertile ground for collaboration and personal growth and that of the entire context.

The world would be better if everyone committed to tolerance, equal opportunity, and inclusion. This intention must be rooted in the values and culture of countries, workplaces, and in individuals.

Institutions, company boards of directors, and managers have the  particular responsibility to set an example by creating a climate of respectful, fair, and inclusive relationships

As I already said when wishing everyone a New Year on LinkedIn, the awareness that peaceful coexistence is possible and the improvement of the quality of life for everyone can facilitate this process.

Tolerance is a key to this process.

If people and countries respect each other and think about coexisting rather than dominating or insulting each other, the world is big enough for everyone.

We can live in peace, without having anything imposed on us by others and without imposing ourselves with violence. Without interventionism disguised as ideological crusades. Wars end when it is decided that peace is worth more than victory, and the problems do not end with massacres: they are resolved with politics, dialogue, good will, and respect toward others.