How to achieve a good coexistence

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Like all facets of life, good coexistence requires learning that is based not only on knowledge but also on rules. Discover how to achieve intimacy with good coexistence. These elements are necessary for a good life in common.

Man is a social being by nature, our life is related to other people, so knowing how to communicate and how to live with others is one of the bases to have a satisfying life.

To learn to live together

Like all facets of our lives, good coexistence requires learning. Since we are small we are interacting with other people, both in the family and in the school or neighborhood. We are learning a series of rules that will govern our social relations.

Children tend to be selfish and try to satisfy their desires and whims in every moment. When having contact with other children is when they have to get used to giving in and not thinking only of them. To be able to live with others, they begin to acquire a series of knowledge and rules, which come from their parents and teachers as well as from their own contact with other children. It’s what we call education.

This concept of education is fundamental in coexistence and communication with our peers, and should not be understood only as a series of norms and social conventions that we should use when dealing with good conextraños or with people who do not belong to our immediate surroundings. Therefore, also in the family environment or with our group of friends and colleagues, we must apply concepts such as being patient, knowing how to listen, respecting the ideas and opinions of others, speaking with respect, etc.

Elements for a good coexistence

Respect: When we establish any type of communication with another person, the first premise is to accept the dignity of this person as such, without prejudice or discrimination, and understand that they may have different thoughts and opinions than ours. This does not imply that we can not discuss or fight against these opinions, but always respecting the person.
The affability: Understanding this as a positive attitude in our relationship with others. An atmosphere of cordiality will facilitate our relationships with others but if our attitude is suspicious or indifferent, it will hardly lead us to a satisfactory coexistence.
Intelligence: In social relationships, good intentions are not always enough. How many times have we seen people who have the dubious gift of impertinence and continually bother without being aware of it? To deal intelligently with others, it is important to listen and try to know the other person and, if not, to be silent at certain times. A socially intelligent person knows how to be and behave with very diverse people, socially and culturally, although he may have had less training in childhood.
Education: It is one of the bases of a good coexistence, and we can consider it as a compendium of the previous points.

Negative factors for good coexistence

Prejudices: These imply a bad predisposition in advance to good coexistence, which will make us have a negative attitude towards others, greatly complicating the relationship. Prejudice goes against the respect that each person deserves.
Intransigence: Living with others is an effort to get points of agreement. For this, all parties must often give in their positions. When someone is never willing to give in, coexistence is not possible, a relationship of compliance or subordination can be produced, but never of authentic coexistence.
The lack of communication: “Speaking is understood by people” is a popular saying that is really successful in this regard. How many times the lack of communication causes difficult situations in all areas of our lives, which could be solved with a simple conversation.

Living together in today’s world

The rhythm of current life and the revolution in communications have created a double effect: on the one hand, we have increased the number and diversity of people with whom we relate, but on the other, the quality of the relationship between people has been made more superficial and more utilitarian.

Life in cities has as a common denominator today the lack of time. The rush and stress are not good allies for coexistence. The relationship with our neighbors, in many cases, is limited to a greeting of rigor and family good coexistence resents the fatigue of the workday.

A special treatment deserves the impact that the appearance of television has had on family good coexistence. Television does not stop being an appliance, whose objective is information and entertainment and which, when used in its proper measure, is extremely useful.

The problem is when this appliance does not stop working throughout the day and begins to replace conversations between family members. For this reason, it is advisable to turn off the television at times of family gatherings and at lunchtime, to encourage family communication that is good coexistence for every family.