'Everyone is entitled to their opinions and if you don't agree with what I say, take a walk!'
Quite rude huh?! But how many times have you been on the receiving end let alone the saying end of this statement? I have never said that you respond. Fair enough; how many times have you subconsciously rubbished people's opinions because they are different from yours? How many times have you mentally rolled your eyes at what someone said because it was different from your school of thought?
It's a Selah moment, right?
I came to my computer to write about one thing but ended up picking inspiration to write about another. One of my friends, Samuel Kamugisha shared an article he wrote 'The Power Of Why' and it got me thinking. His article tackles some of my latest reflections. Also, needless to say, the first thing I did was correct a grammatical mistake which he welcomed with open hands. Imagine if he had rubbished my contribution?
A lot of my friends remark that I seem very introspective lately, and I guess it comes with life, no? Growing up, I was a very opinionated person and some will argue that I still am but I don't blame them because they didn't know me back then. I would shut down your opinion any chance I got because I was convinced that what I had to say was probably more important than what you thought you had to say. Like Samuel would say about this attitude, I thought I was God; I knew everything about everything and my opinion was the final say.
I could easily say I am wiser now but instead, I shall say my exposure has shown me that formation of opinions is multifaceted. People form opinions based on whichever attitude filters have been presented them in the course of their existence. So my attitude is more 'why do they see life this way?' rather than 'they ought to see life the way I do'.
As a result, I ask questions. Almost too many but just enough to inform me on the kind of person I am engaging with. However, this shall be a topic for another day. Instead, can I challenge you to question your opinions? Instead of vehemently insisting on a particular thing, would you challenge yourself to understand other people's school of thought? Where they are coming from and why they believe what they believe? Either way, no doctor prescribes meds without first diagnosing the issue (and that is assuming that you are a doctor).
If someone challenges your opinion, don't take it personally. It's not an attack on you as a person, the 'attack' is directed at what you believe. If you can defend it, defend it. If you can't, sit down, be humble, listen and learn. You never know what will cause you to re-think what you always thought was the truth.
Blessings.
Quite rude huh?! But how many times have you been on the receiving end let alone the saying end of this statement? I have never said that you respond. Fair enough; how many times have you subconsciously rubbished people's opinions because they are different from yours? How many times have you mentally rolled your eyes at what someone said because it was different from your school of thought?It's a Selah moment, right?
I came to my computer to write about one thing but ended up picking inspiration to write about another. One of my friends, Samuel Kamugisha shared an article he wrote 'The Power Of Why' and it got me thinking. His article tackles some of my latest reflections. Also, needless to say, the first thing I did was correct a grammatical mistake which he welcomed with open hands. Imagine if he had rubbished my contribution?
A lot of my friends remark that I seem very introspective lately, and I guess it comes with life, no? Growing up, I was a very opinionated person and some will argue that I still am but I don't blame them because they didn't know me back then. I would shut down your opinion any chance I got because I was convinced that what I had to say was probably more important than what you thought you had to say. Like Samuel would say about this attitude, I thought I was God; I knew everything about everything and my opinion was the final say.
I could easily say I am wiser now but instead, I shall say my exposure has shown me that formation of opinions is multifaceted. People form opinions based on whichever attitude filters have been presented them in the course of their existence. So my attitude is more 'why do they see life this way?' rather than 'they ought to see life the way I do'.
As a result, I ask questions. Almost too many but just enough to inform me on the kind of person I am engaging with. However, this shall be a topic for another day. Instead, can I challenge you to question your opinions? Instead of vehemently insisting on a particular thing, would you challenge yourself to understand other people's school of thought? Where they are coming from and why they believe what they believe? Either way, no doctor prescribes meds without first diagnosing the issue (and that is assuming that you are a doctor).
If someone challenges your opinion, don't take it personally. It's not an attack on you as a person, the 'attack' is directed at what you believe. If you can defend it, defend it. If you can't, sit down, be humble, listen and learn. You never know what will cause you to re-think what you always thought was the truth.
Blessings.
Comments
To so easily feel attacked...
What are we protecting ourselves from? Is there a deeper place that this attitude comes from?
I have always wondered.
Absa, it is a daily fight to take our eyes off of ourselves and onto Jesus. To emulate Christ and have the kind of compassion that He does. Not in our ability but through His given to us as we become more like Him.
Like Karen says, it's so easy to feel attacked. But now that you ask that question Karen, I find myself wondering the same thing 'What are we protecting ourselves from and why do we feel the need to protect ourselves?'
And yes, Emma I am on that journey too. Constantly learning to still my tongue and not engage until I have my facts right. Then I am in a position to respond without unnecessary personal biases.
Ron, my favourite line of your response is this; 'There power is staying curious and asking questions where we don't understand rather than making misguided conclusions' Wow! May we learn to ask why!
Thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts beautiful people.