Building Bridges: The Importance of Embracing Perspectives in Our Relationships
- Priscila Z Vendramini Mezzena
- Apr 10
- 2 min read
In the rush and fatigue of everyday life, my reading has been progressing in strategic intervals — like waiting rooms and moments in transit.
Recently, while waiting for my daughter’s class, I found a quiet spot to try reading. My attempt lasted seconds.
By the second line, a curious little boy, around 8 years old, asked me what I was reading. To simplify, I told him it was about how the postures we adopt can affect our minds (the book is “Presence” by Amy Cuddy). I explained, for example, that when we adopt a posture of strength, our mind may interpret it as a sign that we are strong.
I thought his curiosity would end there. But it didn’t. He sat beside me and said he wanted to read with me. I explained that it might be a bit difficult, showing that I was already well into the book. I took the opportunity to ask if he liked reading.
He said that when he was a child, he had about 10 comic books.
I smiled to myself — and let myself be carried away by a comment he made right after.
Soon after, apparently bored with the topic, he changed the subject. He sat on the floor with some soccer cards and started playing… against himself.
Smiling, I commented that it was a great strategy to always win.
Then another boy joined him for a while. Then another. And just like that, a small dynamic formed among children who didn’t even know each other.
It’s remarkable how, for many children, a shared interest is enough to create a connection — as if they had known each other for a long time.
Those few minutes led me to reflect on perspectives.
How can someone so young consider that a slightly younger version of himself was a “child,” when he himself still is one?
Understanding perspectives — and, more than that, putting ourselves in someone else’s place — is a challenging exercise. Our views are shaped by our upbringing, the values we internalize, our experiences, accumulated knowledge, and cultural influences. Still, the ability to understand the elements behind different perspectives is essential for developing empathy — something so needed in the times we live in.
To access these different perspectives, we must first step outside our own frame. Cultivate genuine curiosity about others. Build dialogues where questions play a central role. Seek a common language. And, above all, be willing to confront the constraints that limit our understanding — the concepts and prejudices we carry throughout our lives.
In daily life, in decision-making, and in conflicts, this ability is key to building strong relationships and trust.
More than understanding others, it is about building bridges and strong connections where previously there were only different points of view.
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