Introduction

Let’s begin with a series of key questions that describe the concepts to be discussed in this text:

• Could it be that a primary reason why all of us have been created is to beautify this world?
• Could it be that a reason for every person’s existence is to participate in this World Beautification effort, one way or another, directly or indirectly?
• Could it be that finding and fulfilling one’s role in this creative effort is meant to be an artistic adventure in every person’s life?
• Could it be that part of every person’s artistic adventure is the matter of discovering one’s natural aptitudes and developing them into rewarding career skills with which to beautify this world, one way or another, directly or indirectly?
• Could it be that another part of every person’s artistic adventure is the matter of finding an intelligent, concerned, and loving mentor for guidance along one’s pathway through life?
• Could it be that for real World Beautification to take place, members of society need to harmoniously interact with each other?
• Could it be that to harmoniously work together, people somehow need to understand each other?
• Could it be that many of the human conflicts in this world can be attributed to a lack of understanding?
• Could it be that solutions to this problem need to be found and CAN be found?
• Could it be that, especially over the last century, many advances have been made in the field of psychology that can enhance people’s abilities to understand each other? However, could it also be that these advances are often explained in sophisticated terminology that is difficult to comprehend for an average person?
• Could it be that the findings of modern psychology can instead be explained in a simplified language that virtually every person can understand?
• Could it be that such a simplified language can be provided in the form of carefully selected analogies?
• Could it be that for people to really understand each other, they need the ability to empathize, namely the ability to see how the world looks from the inner perspectives of other people?
• Could it be that while empathic reasoning ability is a skill that few people possess, it CAN be developed with the right training? Might such training also be possible with the use of carefully selected analogies?

This book focuses on the preceding questions, explores for possible answers, and offers them for reader consideration.