Have you ever been on the side of the story when you are so convinced of your point of view that you can't hear anyone else's opinion? Or have you been on the side of the story, when you want to share your point of view, but no one is willing to listen? I've been on both sides of that story over time.
When you get to the point that you can't listen, you do have to step back and reflect on that mindset. Sometimes you may decide that despite the fact that you're in the minority or that people disagree, you are going to stick to your point of view and do what you believe is important in the situation. At other times, you may coach yourself to listen more to the opposing points of view, work for compromise, or even disband your point of view in favor of another.
If you are not being listened to or heard, you have many choices too. You can continue to express yourself in multiple ways so you are heard. You may join a group of like minded individuals in order to amplify your point of view, or you may simply decide that it's not that important and ride out the fact that you are not being heard.
We will never always agree. We will always and often have opposing points of view since we all see things from the vantage point of our past experiences, knowledge, and place in the world. In the best of circumstances, we will be open to listening to other's points of views and other's will be open to hearing what we have to say too.
The truth is that there is typically many more than two sides to a story, and the more we can entertain the multiple versions that exist with grace, respect, and attention, the better collective decisions we'll make in the long run.
When you get to the point that you can't listen, you do have to step back and reflect on that mindset. Sometimes you may decide that despite the fact that you're in the minority or that people disagree, you are going to stick to your point of view and do what you believe is important in the situation. At other times, you may coach yourself to listen more to the opposing points of view, work for compromise, or even disband your point of view in favor of another.
If you are not being listened to or heard, you have many choices too. You can continue to express yourself in multiple ways so you are heard. You may join a group of like minded individuals in order to amplify your point of view, or you may simply decide that it's not that important and ride out the fact that you are not being heard.
We will never always agree. We will always and often have opposing points of view since we all see things from the vantage point of our past experiences, knowledge, and place in the world. In the best of circumstances, we will be open to listening to other's points of views and other's will be open to hearing what we have to say too.
The truth is that there is typically many more than two sides to a story, and the more we can entertain the multiple versions that exist with grace, respect, and attention, the better collective decisions we'll make in the long run.