Stay open to different ideas…

If you want to grow and create something new - you need to encourage healthy debate and stay open to different ideas. If you want to change someone’s mind and make meaningful change - you need to try and understand where they are coming from… embracing disagreements helps to take the heat out of conflict and turn it into a learning opportunity. Staying open to different opinions can ignite a creative spark, create shared solutions, form deeper connections and help us overcome our differences. As Max Walzenback so wonderfully put it “I believe the key piece to unity and forging relationships is a certain level of openness and vulnerability. Those that do not open themselves to other opinions - both ones they agree and disagree with - will have a hard time connecting and thus forging relationships. Even those who disagree on one issue can find some common ground on another issue. But so often we close ourselves off to one another, isolate ourselves to tribalism, and forget the complex human that sits on the other side of the keyboard.”

— Richard Branson (British billionaire, entrepreneur, business magnate. In the 70’s he founded Virgin Group, which today controls more than 400 companies in various fields. Branson expressed his desire to become an entrepreneur at a young age and began his first venture, a magazine called Student, at age 16). 

I’ve attended many intense, in-depth group therapy workshops. My biggest take away is how I would feel about each individual at the start of the seminar (first, snap impression) vs how I would feel at the end of it. Hearing about people’s experiences, feelings, upbringing and challenges has a way of creating context. I genuinely liked everyone at the end of those weekends. Some I connected with in a more authentic way, due to common ground, but I had honest compassion for everyone in the room. Interestingly, appearance was always a factor. People tend to see “looks” (myself included) and make assumptions, which are frequently off base. Just sayin’ :) Hugs. XO

Blessings,

Chatgirl