Being tolerant means allowing others to have their beliefs and live their life as they wish. You will not be upset by actions they undertake, sexual practices, or way that they dress, or expect them to share your ideas and values.
Being tolerant does not mean putting up with people who interfere with your right to enjoy life or to hold your own views, or in putting up with poor services. You should complain when you are not getting the service you require or others interfere with you. Being tolerant does not mean you have to follow the lead of others, or chose their life style, just try to understand, and allow them the freedom of choice, as long as it does not harm anyone else.
Tolerant people are more inclined to see others point of view or other sides to an argument, more inclined to find compromises, and alternative means of achieving objectives so tend to focus more on objectives than being fixed on the method of achieving them. A tolerant parent is therefore not one that does not care, but one who looks with the young adult or child at how both their and the parents objectives can be met, where both will be happy and safe. They get more involved in discussions and gain negotiating skills and have few arguments.
Arguments and intolerant feelings towards others, groups, or ways of life others choose cause considerable stress and in itself can lead to a lot of unhappiness as well as reciprocal feelings from those who you disapprove off. Many times what the intolerant disapprove of has no effect on them and is often just new or different and over time they will get to accept it, so the stress and unhappiness it causes them is unnecessary.
