By choice, I’ve been getting myself immersed into “controversial” topic areas, and I must say I have enjoyed myself. LOL. What does that mean? Well, it means that as a collector of information and someone who prides herself in developing her ideas and beliefs, I’ve been purposefully subjecting myself to ideas and thoughts that are different from mine.
How different? Like full-spectrum different, some of the ideologies I’m able to agree with partially, and others I find myself having visceral reactions. Fine, I might be dramatic with that last point, but hear me out.
- I’ve noticed that space and time are important factors when it comes to thoughts and ideas.
- Thoughts and ideas that are acceptable today may not be acceptable in years to come.
- Thoughts and ideas of one society may seem foreign to another.
- One’s emotional state or surroundings may dictate their viewpoint.
- One’s level of disagreeableness may play a factor in their beliefs, thoughts and ideas.
The list above is by no means complete or comprehensive.
I’ve seen my share of casual interviews with people who are asked to share their opinions on a controversial topic. And oh my, it’s fascinating, and there is so much to unpack. It’s come to my attention that some people regurgitate the talking points of others but are unable to express the rationale behind their stance. And merely resting upon the shallow thoughts that ‘my idea is right and your idea is wrong,’ just because, is weak.
Oftentimes, people get sucked into an ideology based on group affiliation. And being on the defense for the sake of being disagreeable gets us nowhere. I think something is to be said for looking at one’s thoughts and ideas and examining them alongside opposing thoughts and ideas. I personally, have gained a great deal of insight by training my mind to articulate opposing ideas and views.
I’ve come to the conclusion that expanding our mindset with the intention to learn and grow opens us to a vastness of possibility. And that, my friend, is where the dialogue should start. Not based on a feeling, but from the lens of how I can step back and look at this from a factual and impartial stance.
I’ve found that when I consume content that goes against my views or belief, It either strengthens my stance or helps bridge a path towards a middle ground, not all the time, but sometimes.
For me, a middle ground usually appears when I’ve come into information that I didn’t have before or the points made are strong enough (and, dare I say, well developed) that I can see the other’s POV. I walk away with a more profound sense of what the concerns of others are. And if I’m completely honest, it helps me see that disagreement in a new light.
I also think that some disagreements are rooted in power, privilege, and oppression. Some feel as though something is being taken away, some believe it is their right to access protections/gain freedom, etc., and others want to maintain the status quo. To Change or not to change requires us to reexamine our thoughts and beliefs from a different lens. But that type of work or that type of reflection doesn’t come easy. Long story short, develop critical thinking and reasoning. This isn’t the place or time, but I employ readers to look into both deductive and inductive reasoning when examining their ideas.
I believe the politicizing of thoughts and ideas hurt humans immensely.
My beliefs don’t necessarily fall into right, left, or centrist talking points. My views on abortion, the environment, Black Lives Matter, Trans athletes, Critical Race Theory don’t necessarily fall into one bucket but merely occupy multiple buckets. And that is by design. I choose my own path.
I feel it’s appropriate to end with, go, run, and unlock your mind in new and exciting ways.
Sometimes the problems I have are people talking me out of my ideas and feeing discouraged by it. Most of the time I find it easy to seek out people that share the same ideas, and feed off it, if the idea fails, then it failed in the field.
I also do a lot of mental training to resist being thought out of ideas, David Goggings, Gary V. Etc Have all been great influences to hold in my circle to keep staying the course.
Nice blog by the way…
Thank you for commenting.
I appreciate you sharing your observations and insights into your process. You brought up an excellent point when you mentioned the importance of brainstorming and bouncing ideas around in a welcoming and constructive environment. This is an excellent step toward fine-tuning one’s thoughts, ideas, and beliefs.