Episode #27 Consider Different Perspectives
As we go about our daily lives, our backgrounds, preferences, and ideologies come with us. This week, Dr. Michael Brown and Dr. Chet Hesson talk about the all-important habit of stepping back from our preconceived notions and allowing ourselves to truly look at the world through the eyes of another.
Show Notes
Mature people are those who are willing to change their minds when new information is introduced.Dr. Michael Brown
Three Problems
- Topics of conversation do not divide us as much as our approach to those conversations divide us.
- We often live as if all of our perspectives are perfect.
- We will never be able to develop our perspectives if we only ever consider identical perspectives.
Three Principles
- Identity shapes our perspectives, so growing in our understanding of different perspectives helps us also to understand different identities.
- The three essential ingredients of considering different perspectives are looking closely, listening carefully, and learning deliberately.
- Beliefs should never be a litmus test for friendship.
Three Practices
- Practice talking about the very topics – religion, politics, money – that you grew up learning never to talk about.
- Every single day, utilize the phrases “Help me understand…” and “Tell me more about…”
- When you struggle to relate to someone with differing perspectives, seek to identify your shared values.
In This Episode
Related Dimensions
Related Episodes
Forget Either-Or
Are you liberal or conservative? Good or bad? In or out? This week, Dr. Michael Brown and life design coach David Denison encourage us to retire unhelpfully divisive thinking in a variety of areas in life.
Change Your Mind
We tend to think highly of ourselves for holding on to an opinion indefinitely, but growth and maturity are marked by the ability to react to new information by changing our minds. This week, Dr. Michael Brown is joined by Russell Catania as they outline the key steps to shifting perspectives.
Rethink Your Religion
Religion is not so much about what we resolve or reject but about what we allow ourselves to review, re-examine, or reconsider. This week, Dr. Michael Brown and former pastor Casey Greenawalt encourage us to open our minds to new – or even old – possibilities.
