Manaaki Tangata - Respecting Others

The most recent lesson taught in the WISE Hub focused on accepting difference in others and the importance of this. Here are the main ideas shared with students:

Acceptance is the ability to see that others have a right to be their own unique person. That means having a right to their own feelings, thoughts, appearance and opinions. When you accept people for who they are, you let go of your desire to change them. You let them feel the way they want to feel, you let them be different and think differently from you. Everyone is different in one way or another. Once you understand this truth, you can stop judging them or trying to change them into the people you want them to be and start accepting them for who they are.

Everyone is born with their own mana by inheriting strength and attributes from their parents, grandparents and ancestors. It is a source of both personal and collective strength, pride and identity. Recognising the mana of others helps us to accept difference in others. When you are unkind or unfair to someone you are belittling their mana.