Like-minded people

Do you ever notice how much easier it is to surround yourself with others who think the way you do? You feel a connection with them as you share similar points of view. It can be on any topic from politics to philosophy. You feel validated as you listen to others share their thoughts and beliefs that match your own. But what happens when you hear the thoughts and beliefs of those quite different from your own? Is there a tendency to want to distance yourself from them? Perhaps there is a sense of disdain for their words and actions. This can be an opportunity to listen for an underlying message. When you do so you may find that what they are seeking may not be that far off from what you want. They may be expressing a similar need from a different point of view. You may both wish to be valued for your positions based on past experience and concerns for the future. Take time to listen to others for what they have to say before acting impulsively to judge them. You may find that you are more like minded than you thought. Who can you listen to today who may have a different way of seeing the world?