It’s Okay to Disagree!

They can happen anywhere-at home, at work and even during church meetings. I am referring to disagreements. Why is that? Well, we all tend to have our own ideas about things and when we feel strong enough about them, we want to share them. In doing so, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that a disagreement doesn’t mean that we are feuding, and it certainly doesn’t mean that we don’t love one another. It simply means that we have differing views.

Over the years, I have found that when I have a strong opinion, my “emotion reader” rises, which can be a challenge. The higher it goes, the less likely I am able to get my point across and the harder it becomes to be able to appreciate another view. Funny enough, it is these same emotions that can drive me to step up and voice my thoughts in the first place!

So, what does it all mean? It takes work. Beginning with self-awareness and answers to a few basic questions. How well do I know myself? What makes my view important? What signs tell me that my “emotion reader” is on its way up? What can I do about it?

May our differing views serve to help us better understand one another. Amen. — DR