Smartrulepro Extended

Let go of the need to be "right." In American culture, we seem to have developed an obsession for being right, knowing the truth, and having the most up-to-date and accurate information. Realize that no one, not even you, can have all the answers; everyone's "truth" is going to be only part of the truth. So what if someone else's theory is partially true? That shouldn't cause you to doubt your own belief system unless you would like to. The more you can have a "to each his own" attitude, the more relaxed you will feel while discussing different ideas.

Realize that people's beliefs are shaped by genes, personality, disposition, life experiences, and historical context. Its possible that if you were born in a different time and place, or experienced different things in life, you would have a totally different belief system.

Practice the art of listening carefully. You may need to bite your tongue if you feel the need to lash out with your opinions. Even if you disagree with someone's view, you can reflect back what they're saying to make them feel heard. "So you're saying that..." If something about their opinion or belief system really bothers you, you can respectfully phrase a question to address it, like, "I see where you're coming from, but I don't understand about..."

Do some research. If you often find yourself saying, "Why would someone DO that?" or "I can't imagine doing that" or "People are so ignorant!" you may need look into other peoples' lives and way of thinking. As we all know by now, the internet is an excellent source of information. Having at least a base knowledge of different subjects will not only give you a chance to expand your perspective, it will give you more credibility when speaking to others. An atheist speaking to a Christian who has a thorough knowledge of the Bible is likely to be taken much more serious.

Pick your battles carefully. Sometimes you will never understand someone else's point of view and they won't get yours. Taking a stand for your beliefs does not require you to argue with every person every time you talk about it