by Daniel K Foisy…
One day I was watching the news on television and two sides were debating and trying to pound points and beliefs into one another’s head. They were rude and argumentative and did not truly listen to the other’s point of view. It was hilarious. The words coming out of their mouth were irrelevant because neither one was taking the time to listen; both were on the defense, trying to prove and protect their point of view.
I started laughing because I saw myself doing the same thing numerous times. I guess that is a pattern that I share with these righteous fellows on TV. I’m officially a rude, argumentative, narrow minded individual. I remember all the debates I’ve had and how I felt while it was happening. Was I feeling good at that time? No. Was it productive? No. Did I learn anything? No. Then what was the point?
There was no point other than getting upset and thinking how stupid the other person was because they didn’t see what I saw.
It’s not about being right! What makes me more right than the other? Nothing! Any person, situation, or thing that presents itself has no meaning until I put one to it. The belief and perspective I put on something is defined by my opinion. My opinion stems from my beliefs, which in turn, comes from what I was taught through others and through my experiences. These experiences are unique to me. So when I judge or label something, it is only a reflection of my unique perspective.
I realize now that I cannot discredit someone else’s opinion, and they have no right to discredit mine. The important thing is to open myself up and listen. This gives me the chance to see where others are coming from and understand why they have their point of view. They, in return, don’t feel that their beliefs are being threatened, so are more likely to listen to and understand my point of view. Whether we agree or not is irrelevant. Understanding is all both of us have ever wanted.
Related posts:
- Drink at Your Own Fountain (Or Finding Your Self-Worth) By Elise Fee So many of us have looked externally for validation, self-worth, and reassurance that we are okay. But when we do this, we find that there is never quite enough external assurances to soothe us. The minute we receive some compliment or praise, we are in search of the next honor or [...]...
- Are You Worth 10 Minutes a Day? by Sue Papadoulis… Do less, find just ten minutes a day to be peaceful, and you’ll earn more – happiness, money, prosperity and abundance. 1. Achieve more by doing less. The key to living a life of peaceful abundance comes in understanding that you will achieve more by doing less. This may seem a paradox at first, [...]...
- The Importance of Listening to People By John W Robertson According to Dr Stephen R. Covey in his seminal works, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, most people ‘listen’ at one of four listening levels: Ignoring – Where we aren’t even pretending to pay attention when someone is talking to us. Pretending – This is when we want the person to [...]...
- How to Handle Rude People – 3 Simple Tips to Deal With Rude People By Michael Lee There are many different ways on how to handle rude people. Some like to confront the situation verbally, while others choose to express their displeasure in a more non-verbal and mostly physical way. Violence is never the answer of course. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it. Read on and find [...]...
- Spiritual Enlightenment – You Are the Unique One By Paul Woodford Yes you. Of the myriad of living things which have or will ever inhabit the universe you are unique there never has been or ever will be anything like you. Not only are you unique, you are from your point of view, the centre of the universe. So relish your uniqueness. Your [...]...