| We’re living in challenging times. For many, it’s easy right now to see/hear others’ biased thinking and wonder… Why? How can they believe that? What makes them see things the way they do? And yet, they may say the same about us because we have our own blind spots, our own limitations, our own dysfunctions, don’t we? As I’ve said many times, we’re all a work in progress. What we practice we become. For my part, I try always to be open. Sometimes it’s hard, sometimes I fail… especially with those I know well and love. Having history with a person can make it particularly easy to slip into expecting (wanting) them to think/feel/act a particular way, even if it isn’t at all the way they respond. When I’m open, I ask questions from a perspective of interest, wanting to learn, so that I can understand another’s viewpoint. I’m receptive, paying attention, not judging, not thinking ahead of what to say. As a coach, I know firsthand the immense benefit of being open… we see, we hear, we absorb, we learn, we grow, we develop wisdom over time. It makes a difference in our dialog and understanding, both internally and with those around us. What could possibly happen if this week we were to practice being open? I invite you to join me in practicing being: Open to seeing Open to listening Open to different perspectives Open to what you’re hearing deep inside Open to viewing something or someone differently Open to reading something you don’t normally read Open to sharing something you don’t normally share Open to connecting with someone you don’t normally Open to stop doing something that doesn’t serve you well In the end, we may not agree with someone. But there may be a middle ground… topics we can talk about, beyond the feelings of right and wrong. Try meeting there. We may be the only one in that person’s life who does. |
