Section II
Conversations
Remember:
You can’t change other people;
you can only change yourself.
If you go in with the intention to change someone’s mind, it will inevitably lead to conflict and frustration on both sides.
Instead go in with the goal of
UNDERSTANDING
where the other person is coming from.
Respect, curiosity, and openness often elicit the same from the other person.
Everyone needs to save face—try not to portray anyone as ignorant, self-serving, or bigoted.
Even very different people might have some shared values that can be discovered.
Expectations to Abandon
That you can persuade the other person to change their core attitudes and beliefs.
That you will agree on everything and logic will follow.
That your conversation partner will mirror your openness.
