Mental Manipulation at the Edge of the Minefield

Are you sitting comfortably surrounded by people who talk and think like you do? Do you see/spend time only with people who agree with, or relate to,  everything you say? Have you also taken it upon yourself to find media which keeps you stuck in this bubble? When was the last time you let your mind wander to the space where people are "on the other side", thinking very unlike you? There are lots of places where you can find people who don't see things the way you do and it can get really uncomfortable quickly. Yet, with all your passion, are you not willing to be uneasy for the sake of your conviction? Better yet, can you stay your convictions on the sidelines while you listen and even interact with people with questions instead of disagreement? Are you the person who shuts down arguments that people have when you don't want to hear it? Let's face it, if you keep talking, you might win through manipulation, shaming, name-calling, or even annihilating someone's point of view. Maybe it's time to stop telling and start listening to what's happening below the level of the conversation. If you want to be seen and heard, yet you won't afford tolerance and understanding to others, what kind of message are you sending? When you live the way you want, you give permission to others to lean into who they are. You don't need to be at the edge of the minefield - for the mind can't handle the fear and insanity there. Staying unattached and free to allow the mind to wander away from the minefield and toward problem-solving (and LOVE) is what/where we want to grow toward. Think about that the next time you want to engage with those people who "don't get it" (while you do?)