One of the major strengths of the paranormal community is the fact that it is so diverse. The community is made up of so many different people who are interested in all aspects of paranormal activity, and this is what makes the community so vibrant. It seems there are always new ideas, new thoughts, and new theories floating around – in fact for many people this is why the paranormal community is so appealing. The thought of being able to be surrounded by a group of friendly, welcoming and approachable people who all share a related interest is one of the most heartwarming.

However, for quite a while now I have been noticing that not all members of the paranormal community are being as welcoming as they should perhaps be. Indeed I’ve noticed that there seems to be a growing undercurrent of closed mindedness washing through the community, and this can have negative connotations not just on individual members of the community, but on the community as a whole. If you really want to get the most out of being part of this community, then being open minded and striving for unity is the only way forward.

You wouldn't believe the number of times I have heard someone say something along the lines of "I'm an easy going type of person. I get along with everyone I meet, in fact that is one of my main goals." And then in the same breath they add "But I really cannot tolerate dumb people". Whoa, hold on! Didn't you just say that you were easy going and that it was one of your goals to make sure you got on well with people? Surely if you really did want to get along with everyone then you would try to work out any differences you may have with these people who you perceive as being 'dumb'?

In fact, even by making the statement that you cannot tolerate 'dumb' people you are creating the sort of negative energy that will not only have an affect on you, but also on the community as a whole. For instance, if someone is only willing to talk to a certain group of people - those people who they do not think are 'dumb' - then they will quickly build up a reputation of being quite unsociable. Having this kind of reputation is detrimental because it creates a barrier between yourself and others, not to mention the fact that you will miss out on getting to know a lot of different people; people who could potentially have been friends if you had just refrained from labeling them as being ‘dumb’. 

Differentiating and discriminating against people is just adding to the problem that our community is facing – it’s a vicious circle of negative feelings. If someone is anti-social towards you, then the chances are that you will be anti-social towards them. This just results in a stalemate situation and if left unchecked this is how several small groups who never speak to anyone from another group form. Obviously the existence of these small ‘closed’ groups is extremely harmful to any community, so I want to show everyone that the paranormal community is all about getting along with each other, NOT forming the ‘members only’ kind of tight-knit social groups that are so common in other communities.

So how exactly can we overcome this closed mindedness? The answer is that by simply taking a new approach to the way we treat each other, we will be able to ensure that our community remains welcoming and engaging.

Of course there are always going to be certain people who you don’t like and who you don’t get along with completely, but that doesn’t mean that you should ignore them, or treat them badly. Even if you don’t like someone you should still make the effort to talk to them, even if it’s just a minute long conversation about the weather, or about a show that was on TV last night, or asking them if they have read a certain article that discusses a paranormal topic.

You may not be ready to call that person your best friend for life, indeed you may not even WANT them to be your best friend for life, but at least by engaging in a civil conversation you have made an effort, and who knows, perhaps you may come to discover that someone who you thought you didn’t like is in fact someone who you have a lot in common with and who you’d like to call a friend.

The key to getting along with people, even people who you don’t particularly like, is always treating them with respect. They are a person just like you, so be polite and courteous towards them. The old proverb of "treat others as you would like to be treated yourself" is a great approach to social gatherings. In the majority of cases if you are polite to someone, then they will be polite to you. Of course, sometimes there are exceptions - perhaps the person is having a particularly bad day, but even so, remain courteous at all times. It sounds so simple doesn't it? But people still struggle to get along, even when they share a common interest.

However, stick with this basic principle, and you will find that you will start getting along with people more easily, and you never know, if you get to know new people you may just find yourself making new friends and enjoying yourself all the more!

Indeed there have been a number of scientific studies that have investigated the link between how we are treated socially and the type of effect this treatment has on us. Even something as simple as a smile or a few kind words can have an overwhelmingly positive physiological effect on both the giver, and the receiver. By smiling at another person, you are letting them know that you accept them, and this imbues a feeling of importance and wellbeing in the other person. These feelings have been found to deliver a number of health benefits, both physically and mentally; these positive emotions activate various harmonies inside the body, which in turn promote good health.

Remember, there are about 6 billion people on this planet, and each one is an individual, with individual thoughts, feelings and attitudes. The world is an incredibly diverse place, and therefore the paranormal community is also an incredibly diverse place, and it is all the better because of this. Diversity is a good thing, so let’s all try to be more accepting of people and accept them for who they are. We are all part of the same community, and by creating a sense of unity between each other, we are strengthening the paranormal community and ensuring that it remains the vibrant and interesting place that we care about so much.