Why can’t we discuss our differences instead of arguing? Why can’t we discuss difficult issues with respect and compassion?
I had a very interesting experience last week when I attempted to post a link to an article on Facebook written by Ty and Charlene Bollinger. The article shared CDC Admits to Inflating COVID Death Count with the intention to share the article with my Facebook friends but I received the response in the photo below and my post was blocked by Facebook’s software. That is a subject for another article.
The real interesting thing happened when I posted a photo of the article instead. My friends began to make comments like “that is fake news” and “You are misinformed” but not one person asked the question “Why do you believe that?” There was no dialogue about the facts or an attempt to understand each other’s position and that is plaguing our entire nation. Why can’t we be open to hearing another person’s experience or opinion when it differs from our own?
We must learn how to discuss our differences and also teach our children to do the same. We all believe what we believe based on our experience and our source of news but what if we had the tools to ask compelling questions with the intention to learn from one another.
Five Ways to Talk About Issues with Respect and Compassion
- Listen with the intention to understand.
- Ask compelling questions to understand more about them and their experience.
- Be self-aware of what triggers you and why.
- Focus on solutions and how to solve the problem together
- If you can’t agree, agree to disagree and move on.
By practicing the five ways listed above you can become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. You can be part of a generation of world changers that are not threatened by opposing views or beliefs but welcome them. You can be an example to your children and equip them with the knowledge they need to become a powerful communicator at a time it is most needed.
I would love to hear about your experiences on this topic.
Mike
