Misunderstanding From Miscommunication

Communication is the lifeblood of relationships. Relationships live, die and thrive based on communication.

Some of the greatest misunderstandings seem to be between generations.
One generation not understanding another.

This goes from younger generations not understanding older ones and older not understanding younger.

I wonder how often this is willful misunderstanding though. If we're honest, I think inside us there is something where we don't want to really understand other generations. We are fine and sometimes almost secretly enjoy the disconnect between generations.

It seems easier to write off a different generation than to try and understand them.

The difference in understanding generations seems to be willingness, not age. I know older people who can relate to younger generations, simply because of willingness. And the same goes the other way. I know young people who work and understand older generations, simply because of willingness.

Understanding anyone seems to more be a matter of how willing we are to extend ourselves to understand them. It's not a matter of if that person is actually understandable. Because everyone is understandable. This goes from the best person to the worst person alive. It doesn't make a "bad" person right, but there is a set of reasons that are understandable as to why they are "bad". How much are we willing to bend our mind and understand other people?

Communication can get us there.

The good thing about communication is the bad thing as well. That being, it takes two.

Clear dialogue requires two willing participants.

Monologue unfortunately does little, productively.

Attempted dialogue turns into monologue if a participant doesn't hold up their end of communication.

To bridge the gap of misunderstanding it first takes willingness and then communication.

If we don't understand someone, it's generally our own fault, not the fault of the person we don't understand.