Familiarity

     Knowing more about a person or a group can cause a variety of reactions.  As you discover what you have in common and appreciate the good qualities, familiarity can breed understanding and sympathy. When you begin to focus on differences, you can either appreciate the unique qualities or judge them as faults.   Familiarity can then breed contempt.  When you enjoy family, old friends, places, and traditions, familiarity can breed contentment.  When you are only content within your comfort zone or refuse to consider new ideas, familiarity can breed complacency.

     On the flip side, how can people get to know you better?  Your family and old friends will be the most familiar with you because they have had the time to understand your personality and have witnessed many facets of your life.  You also know them, their good points and their faults. You have sympathy for each other.  Try to extend  these feelings to others who cross your path and get to know them and let them know you.

     The majority of people in the world you will never meet or get to know and vise versa.  Try to extend your understanding and sympathy towards them and don't let their differences out shadow what you may have in common.  As you do meet new people, keep an open heart and mind.  As you expand your circle of friends, have sympathy for all types of people and consider many viewpoints, familiarity will breed the best of reactions.