Rebbe Dovid of Lelov zt'l was walking through a forest to get to Lizhensk, but he lost his way and couldn’t find his way out. An elderly person arrived and walked him out of the forest.
As they walked, the old man taught Rebbe Dovid two essential lessons on getting along with one's fellow man. He said, when one wants to connect two wooden planks, but one of them has a protruding knob, you don't cut out the knob. Instead, you should make an indentation on the other plank, and then they will be able to bind together. Furthermore, don't focus on the faults of others. Focus on your faults. See the many things that you have to fix. And when you look at your fellow man, see only his qualities and goodness.
After saying these two things and showing Rebbe Dovid the way out of the forest, the old man disappeared. That is when Rebbe Dovid understood that this old man was Eliyahu HaNavi, who taught him two wonderful eitzos for attaining peace.
Instead of focusing on other people's faults, and instead of trying to change them by removing their 'knobs,' focus on your own faults. Carve yourself out to accommodate and accept your fellow man's knobs and imperfections.
It is easier to change yourself than to change others. So, instead of trying to remove your fellow man's knobs, find a way to accept and to ignore.
