# How To Understand One Another Better

Since human beings are social creatures, communication is central to our 
lives. Being misunderstood is quite common and often leads to feelings of 
isolation. This is because we lack sufficient understanding of the 
underlying dynamics of communication. Many of these topics have already 
been mentioned briefly in the first part of the book. Instead of repeating 
what I wrote in Chapter I, I will assume it's still fresh in your memory 
so feel free to read up on it again.

When someone's awareness is fully consumed with trying to fit in, their 
interactions almost exclusively consist of taking turns and speaking 
without listening. This is the result of a 'fake' identity which may still 
manage to come across as appealing to the outside world but is very 
unfulfilling and 'empty' on the inside. The way someone communicates says 
a lot about the person and if you never listen, you end up being surrounded 
by people doing the same. Being aware of this can improve your ability to 
connect as you start listening more. Instead of using your own worldview 
when speaking, you start to understand the other person's worldview and 
are able to use that instead. It charms you when you put a lot of energy 
into trying to understand people and helps you to achieve a lot in life.

Communication is more about how you are perceived than about what you 
actually say. Realizing this will make you more aware of how to say things. 
This has been a key factor in most of my perceived success and also extends 
into my personal life, my professional life, media, politics, almost 
everything. You're also much more likely to persuade people by knowing how 
to speak to them rather than knowing what to say and this is a process that 
starts with listening.