Always remember who you are. It’s easy to forget that simple reminder when life starts pushing in on you. You can bend but never allow yourself to break from the pressure to go AGAINST what you believe in.
As you get close to your breaking point, remind yourself what you stand for, what you will and won’t do. Double down on your beliefs and stand firm. Before, I wrote against being intolerant of other points of view. This is not that. This is about being able to entertain an idea without accepting it as your own. This is about knowing who you are in any given circumstance and not giving in to the point of going against your beliefs.
This is about protecting your name and what you value. This is about NOT succumbing to negative peer pressure. Each one of us has the option of saying no. Always remember who you are so that you can always know who you are not.
But, at the same time, understand that we are all different. It’s okay to consider a differing viewpoint. No, you don’t have to be swayed by it. But, mull over it. Touch it. Understand it. See it from the other persons point of view so that you can better SEE where they are coming from. There is nothing wrong with taking the time to get to know the why behind another persons stance.
If it goes against who you are, that’s okay. We’re all different. We’re all lovely in our own ways. You don’t have to accept it, but consider accepting the person whose viewpoint you may not agree with. Why? Because we all want the same thing. We want autonomy, security, and happiness. Not everybody is going to agree with you, that doesn’t mean you should be browbeaten. Am I right?
It’s been said that a mark of intelligence is being able to entertain a thought without accepting it as your own.
That’s all I’m saying. Entertain. Grow. Come together as one despite your differences.
Wonderful advice! A habit of Peacemakers!
The desperate need to have other people agree with us has as its evil twin the desperate desire to be accepted, tempting us to agree with things that go against our deepest values. BOTH are heavy, painful burdens that ruin relationships, cause unnecessary stress, and sews growing division in a free society.
Learning to let go of the compulsion to hammer our ways into other people is the same as learning how to be more at peace with one’s self, just as it teaches us how to be at peace with others.
I remember one time, years ago, having a conversation with a new co-worker about me not being a drinker. I told him that I’ve never been interested in drinking alcohol. He instantly got angry with me and said, “So sounds like you have a problem with me then!”
I calmly told him that I didn’t and went on my way. The issue here is that it’s hard for most people to separate the issue from the person. I may not agree with somebody but that doesn’t mean that we can’t be friends. Friends disagree, family disagrees. It happens. It should separate us.