Daily Question, March 7 How can I stretch myself to learn from someone different from me? 20 Reflections Share Click here to cancel reply.Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment. Notify me when someone replies to my comment via e-mail. Heather6 years agoHeatherThis is a timely question for me, and in a different way even than I would typically think of "someone different from me" to mean. There is an important person in my life who has an opposite worldview from me - this person owns their default cynicism and I own my default optimism - in ways that we often misunderstand each other's intentions and impacts. I can stretch myself to keep choosing into optimism while practicing empathy and curiosity with my counterpart's shared experiences and views of... This is a timely question for me, and in a different way even than I would typically think of “someone different from me” to mean. There is an important person in my life who has an opposite worldview from me – this person owns their default cynicism and I own my default optimism – in ways that we often misunderstand each other’s intentions and impacts. I can stretch myself to keep choosing into optimism while practicing empathy and curiosity with my counterpart’s shared experiences and views of the world. Read More0 Reply Laura6 years agoLauraListen and breathe. 1 Reply Dr Marilyn Joyce6 years agoDr Marilyn JoyceThe easiest way for me to learn from someone different from me is to move out of my head and into my heart – and listen intently, compassionately and lovingly from my heart. And to simply allow the flow of a heart-centered conversation. There is no room for judgement or intolerance within the heart, only the head. 3 Reply Learner6 years agoLearnerToday I had a meeting with a deaf lady. I tought I had prepared well for the conversation. But I learned that even when I thought I had been thinkng about every thing, I had missed to see the room from her perspective. We sat in a room where no one can look in and see our faces. But our hands could bee seen from the outside. And she was talking with her hands!. Which means: if someone outside the room was familiar with the Sign language of deaf people, they could read her signs and understand w... Today I had a meeting with a deaf lady. I tought I had prepared well for the conversation. But I learned that even when I thought I had been thinkng about every thing, I had missed to see the room from her perspective. We sat in a room where no one can look in and see our faces. But our hands could bee seen from the outside. And she was talking with her hands!. Which means: if someone outside the room was familiar with the Sign language of deaf people, they could read her signs and understand what she was talking about! Im so glad she told me so I could learn from her! Read More4 Reply Elizabeth M Jones6 years agoElizabeth M JonesWith patience and humility. 2 Reply Hot Sauce6 years agoHot SauceStudying abroad and learning about the culture in Vietnam and Cambodia will help me to empathize with and understand the people's cultures and the diversity within those cultures. Also, studying political science next semester, God-willing, will allow me to understand the history and ideologies behind not only my own politics but that of others. I am also taking classes in cultural psychology next semester, God-willing, and intercultural communication this semester, so this will help me understa... Studying abroad and learning about the culture in Vietnam and Cambodia will help me to empathize with and understand the people’s cultures and the diversity within those cultures. Also, studying political science next semester, God-willing, will allow me to understand the history and ideologies behind not only my own politics but that of others. I am also taking classes in cultural psychology next semester, God-willing, and intercultural communication this semester, so this will help me understand where the values of different cultures are coming from. I look forward to learning about these various communities and, hopefully, gaining some wisdom and empathy from them. Read More2 Reply Barbara Morris6 years agoBarbara MorrisI was off for an extended medical leave. Before i left i was teaching 12th graders. Now i am returning and will be teaching 7th grade…very different. It is going to be a learning experience for me! I am really looking forward to it. Any advice, Kevin? I know you often work with this age group. 2 Reply Chester6 years agoChesterPausing and genuinely considering, the stretching will inevitably follow. 3 Reply Sharon Kegerreis6 years agoSharon KegerreisI can stretch myself by giving permission to be unafraid of voices and teachers I’m not familiar with. I start from a place where I thought I knew it “all.” Only from here can I begin to truly grow. 2 Reply Sharon Kegerreis6 years agoSharon KegerreisBy giving myself permission to be unafraid and to be open to all that is brought before me. I have much more to learn than I can dream or imagine. 3 Reply Deb6 years agoDebBy listening twice as much as speaking. After all, I have two ears and only one mouth! 4 Reply Nancy6 years agoNancySo true, Deb. I have promised to be a more attentive listener. And to quiet my anxiousness to speak because I just might learn something if I give that person my full attention. 2 Reply Doreen Nixon6 years agoDoreen NixonI can stretch myself by being the one to initiate the conversation. Say hello and smile. 3 Reply Michael6 years agoMichaelI like the wisdom in Verses on the Faith Mind: Don’t seek the truth, just cherish no opinions. 3 Reply kathleen6 years agokathleenBe open and question my assumptions. Be curious and interested in others. 3 Reply Ose6 years agoOseBy seeing and valuing the beauty of experiencing the enormous variety all around, in every individual expression of Gods creation. Then, the differences are pure enrichment, free of judgement, they are as they are and exist to enrich and nourish our lifes and creation itself. If we can see that we are one choir composed of a broad variety of voices, colors and beings in general, every expression is enriching and so widening my perspective through being and living together on our beautiful planet... By seeing and valuing the beauty of experiencing the enormous variety all around, in every individual expression of Gods creation. Then, the differences are pure enrichment, free of judgement, they are as they are and exist to enrich and nourish our lifes and creation itself. If we can see that we are one choir composed of a broad variety of voices, colors and beings in general, every expression is enriching and so widening my perspective through being and living together on our beautiful planet. Read More6 Reply miguelie6 years agomiguelieWhat a beautiful view, Ose. Your writing is quite lovely, too. 1 Reply Nancy6 years agoNancyI agree with you miguelie. Ose does have a beautiful way with expression. 0 Reply Ose6 years agoOseThank you, miguelie and Nancy, for your encouraging comment. I am happy that the images I use seem to reach you beyond the words and arrive in a place of beauty in yourself. Shared beauty, thank you for this joy 🙂 0 Reply Kevin6 years agoKevinBy keeping my mouth shut and my listening ears open. 5 Reply My Private Gratitude Journal Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal Get Started This site is brought to you by A Network for Grateful Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are fully tax deductible in the U.S.A. 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