Everything that happens to you is a form of instruction if you pay attention. - Robert Greene

If you are observing someone you naturally dislike, or who reminds you of someone unpleasant in your past, you will tend to see almost any cue as unfriendly or hostile. You will do the opposite for people you like. In these exercises you must strive to subtract your personal preferences and prejudices about people.

When our emotions are engaged, we often have trouble seeing things as they are.

Let others worry about being socially acceptable; those types are a dime a dozen, and you are after a power greater than they can imagine.