I read and listen to people I know I don’t agree with. Call it curiosity. Call it a test. At the very least I call it both. I read and listen because I use opposite thinking and beliefs to measure mine against. If something makes me angry, or challenges what I’m thinking, and I find my thinking still holds, I remain confident that my beliefs and values are measure up.
I chalk that up to age and experience. Especially when I’m reading younger writers who may have skill, but not enough life experience to avoid shortcutting most of the context that has preceded them along their short path to whatever point they are making. I know I was guilty of that in my younger days. Live and learn? Perhaps. Live and listen. Absolutely.
I actually look forward to having my convictions and my beliefs challenged. When they are and yet still stand it’s always buttressing. When they are challenged and I find myself needing to rethink something, it’s stimulating intellectually and emotionally, and always discomforting. I don’t mind the discomfort. I’d rather experience that than stand still out of stubbornness.
Comfort comes from knowing I’ve allowed myself to measure up and my thinking has not been found wanting as the tides come and go.
(image from imfoto on Shutterstock)
You can also find more of my writings on a variety of topics on Medium at this link, including in the publications Ellemeno and Rome. I can also be found on social media under my name as above.
Life on the Wicked Stage: Act 3 