The Art Of Agreeing To Disagree

“Your psychological epicenter is clearly not at the center!”

“No, that is NOT how it is”

“I suggest you get your facts right!”

“You actually believe that!?”

And that my dear friends, is how you waste your valuable energy and time fighting foolishly to prove that you’re the “right” one.

Take a chill pill.

“Right” and “wrong” are relative terms and everyone has their own definition of it. What’s green for you is grey for dogs. Mountain Trekking might be dangerous to you but thrilling for others. Traveling the world might be tiring to you but relaxing for others. Listening to old songs might be peaceful to you but boring for others. I can give many examples like this but I suppose you got my point.

Often, when we’re faced with the discomfort of disagreement, we either fight tooth and nail for our point or turn tail and avoid it all together.

There’s a better and more balanced way, you said it, agree to disagree.

Stay in the middle, balance it out.

Lot many times, we enter a disagreement with a rock solid understanding of our side but very little understanding of the opposition.

We’re so engulfed in thinking of a reply that we don’t even listen to what the other person is saying.

The trick to escape this self-bias would be Empathy.

Be empathetic.

See with the eyes of another. Listen with the ears of another. And feel with the heart of another.

Take time and listen to understand what the other person wants to convey.

Do not perceive a situation as Either/or (EITHER you’re right OR they are right). Rather think of the situation as Both/and (BOTH you AND the opposition can be right). Both parties should work towards a solution, rather than creating a chaos out of thin air.

And even in worst case scenarios when you just cannot agree to the point of view of another, you can still always agree to disagree.

Don’t go all scratching the other person’s face. Remember, “right” and “wrong” are relative terms.

· Set your pride aside.

· Listen with empathy.

· Maintain perspective of what’s really important.

· Agree to Disagree

Congratulations, Agree to Disagree skill has been added to your long list of other Ninja skills!

As a matter of fact, the first priority of a Ninja is to win without fighting.

Peace!