Listen to or Read Something that Makes You Mad.
I am terrible at this, but I'm trying.
By TLS
Few of us are proficient at this particularly painful pursuit. Some must do it professionally; business, media, politics, etc. A few others actively seek out conflicting views (the freaks). The rest of us just want to stay in our comfortable fuzzy bubble.
Who can blame us? It’s comfortable in here. And safe. And nothing challenges our worldviews so we can remain righteous, and all-knowing, and all judgemental. But ultimately we are drastically undermining ourselves.
Think of anything you’ve ever done that you were good at or was valuable or worthwhile. My guess would be there was a significant learning curve or effort level involved to reap that reward.
Broadening our perspectives can be equally challenging, but far more useful in the long run. Sometimes it can lead to a better idea or perspective. Other times it may help reinforce the current view. The point is, one doesn’t know until this area is explored.
A wider, broader perspective brings many benefits. Similar to learning a foreign language, there is more to it than the language itself. Learning a second language provides new ways of thinking, exposure to other cultures, and provides a glimpse of a different view than our own.
Reading (or watching/listening to) a viewpoint opposite one’s own can have a similar effect. It might point out a flaw in one’s own position. Conversely, there may be a glaring flaw in the opposing view.
Honestly and productively engaging in an opposing view can be difficult, to say the least. Silo-ing oneself in many of the polarized views of today has become a very common norm. A norm which is having a devastating effect on our lives, our country, and our world. Read something today that makes you made. It just may help save us all.
Clip art
<a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/business-leaders-lead-their-business-success-by-seeking-out-new-ideas-promote-business-grow_29175477.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=41&uuid=3dfab167-eb74-434d-b45c-595c7f3dbeb6">Image by jcomp on Freepik</a>
