"Why Should I Listen To Someone That I Disagree With, and KNOW Is Wrong?"

Modern society has become very polarising, and ironically, somewhat binary in many ways. Like always, many people disagree with one another on many things, and this is obviously not a new phenomenon. People disagree, and that's okay, it might even be a good thing.

If you put your hand vertically out in front of you and slowly move it from side to side, it will jolt and shudder as it moves. However if you make a fist with the other hand and force it against that hand as you move it from side to side, it will move smoothly from side to side.

So what does this mean? It means that when there is an opposing force acting against us we can surprisingly act in a more harmonious and coordinated manner. A little amount of pressure is beneficial.

And we know this already, a small amount of anxiety can be helpful in certain situations and training and against an appropriate resistance builds muscle. There are plenty of examples of this out there.

But you might say, "why should I listen to someone that I know is wrong?". There are a few reasons for this, the salient one being, well how do you know that they're wrong and you're right? Maybe they know something that you don't, and listening to them might prevent you from wandering down a blind, or deadly, alley at some point in the future.

Another reason is that maybe you can teach them something, you can attempt to understand their viewpoint and then rearticulate their opinion back to them with a subtly altered and empathetic undertone that might enlighten them.

The final and possibly most important reason and scenario, is that the act of you two amicably disagreeing may induce a transformative process in the both of you. This will possibly catalyse a new way of thinking and enlighten the both of you separately. You are also engaging in a redemptive and rejuvenating process, both individually and collectively. The importance of this process cannot be underestimated.

To let go of beliefs can be extremely painful, hence why so many people refuse to do it. To give up the tyrannical thoughts and beliefs that reside in our minds does not result in immediate freedom and prosperity, initially it leads to a barren and arid existence, and a trip to the underworld. However, with time it allows room for a more solid yet flexible structure of thoughts and beliefs to exist.

We should not vilify people that we disagree with, nor should we ignore or dismiss them. The next time you disagree with someone there should be a small part of you that thinks "Brilliant, an opportunity to learn something new, or an opportunity to facilitate the process that improves someone's ability to effectively discern for themselves"

Until next time,

OxJ