Outside the comfort zone

Principle- Learning the ways of others.
We're all human, and that gives us an inherent number of similarities. But there are also many factors among us that vary, and therefore pave the way for any number of differences. When it comes to viewing others, if we do so in a negative light, more often than not it is in part because of a lack of understanding. Whether it is a complete lack of understanding, such as being introduced to an entirely new culture/religious belief/whatever, or a misconception caused by a bad experience or biased account of another individual, there tend to be things we do not understand about what we do not like.
If we're going to dislike something, it is best to understand why we come to feel that way. This is where the comfort zone comes in. Generally, mannerisms are found unappealing to a given individual because they are outside the normal perspective of said individual. In effect,

"I don't like x because I had a bad experience with it/my friend told me it is bad/ because I think it works this way, and I don't like that(but I don't realize it doesn't work the way I think it does), and on top of that, it is something I'd never ever do or say or believe because it's not who I am."

The purpose of this post is to encourage readers to lay such statements aside, to ask questions instead of making declarations. From one's perspective, activity/idea 'X' is unappealing, but what do we really know about it? It never hurts to learn more about what we don't understand, especially if we are focused on avoiding or condemning it based on our limited understanding. Why not get to know people who engage in X(in a polite and non confrontational manner)? Why not observe the activities, ask the questions and try to get an insider's perspective? If the activity or ideal is popular even among a small population, there must be something about it that makes sense.

Guidelines-
-Keep an open mind:Always be open to knowledge. Keeping an open mind doesn't mean that one has to adopt what they witness, but to merely witness without bias.
-Be ready to feel awkward and uncomfortable: Learning about or participating in something one does not understand or enjoy isn't guaranteed to be fun. Part of growing is moving beyond what one is familiar with, and learning about things one does not appreciate falls in well here. Don't let feelings of discomfort stop you from connecting with others.