Everyone has an opinion about something they believe.

There is no “right” or “wrong” belief as it comes from our past knowledge, skills and experiences.

It’s natural to find ourselves challenged in conversations, and we all have been in situations where we have either strongly supported or disagreed.

Have you thought about what happens in our minds when we don’t like what we see, hear or feel?

We are all unconsciously defending our beliefs and opinions.

Like a territory can have multiple maps, all of us can have different opinions that are correct in one way or another.

When our beliefs are challenged, it takes a lot of courage to acknowledge that someone else’s opinion can be “right”.

Although defending one’s opinion is not a bad thing, we should remember that everyone brings their experiences and value to the table.

When we keep an open mind, we can learn something we may not have known.

When we stop defending our opinions, we can gain essential listening skills.

When we focus on understanding other people’s points of view, we discover new learnings and wisdom that would elude us.

Reflect on your conversations, and if you find yourself defending your beliefs and opinions, think about what perspective you’re missing.

What kind of information can you gain about people with a different worldview than yours?