That I generally avoid certain topics when I talk to folks…
Topics like…
Politics and Religion, for 1 reason.
Not because I don’t have firm beliefs in both, because I do…
I avoid it because:
I don’t want others to prematurely judge me, or have them think I am prematurely judging them based on a “position”, before they know me…
Because no one wants to be judged in the absence of knowledge, in the absence of experience, in the absence of substance.
We all want, before that judgment comes, to be… UNDERSTOOD.
I want you to know that my opinions come from substance.
I want you to know that my slant (without judgment of right or wrong) comes from a moment of experience.
I want you to know that I am not certain I am right, but I am certain of what is right for me.
I want you to know, that even if I fervently disagree with you, I understand you’re your opinion (just like mine) comes from your experience of the world – and I RESPECT that.
I want you to know that I don’t judge you for your opinion – whatever it is – and hope that you won’t judge me for mine.
I want you to know that we can agree to disagree and it won’t affect my opinion of you – I will always respect you for who you are.
I want you to know that I would never dream of forcing my world view upon you, and hope you would never dream of forcing yours upon me.
I know you need to be heard just as much as I need to be heard. We all need to be heard.
When we can hear each other, understand each other, know each other; only then can we begin to share what is truly important.