Perhaps people don’t understand each other because they don’t want to or try to. Perhaps when anger flares up we should tuck it back in & obey Jesus’ command to “love your enemies.”
If people do their own thing, feelings rule; if their own thinking, logic can. However, the mind has fake thoughts and fine thoughts. It’s important to know the difference. For example, worry is a choice, not an obligation, however, if you don’t bring peace to yourself, you can’t give peace to anyone else. Perhaps things are about to get better at any moment & your discouragement is a lie.
Assumptions, accusations, and conspiracy theories sweep too many minds downriver. Perhaps your attitude is influencing your circumstances, more than the reverse.
True thinkers must think. They’re unwilling to merely absorb other people’s information. Accumulating information’s fine, but it’s better to train your mind to think and your heart to care. If we spent as much time using our brain as our phone, we’d all be brilliant. Creative thinkers don’t fit easily into political categories.
Here’s a way to get some thinking going. People you disagree with have reasons for their opinions. Why not find their reasons? Ask yourself: “Why do some people disagree with my opinions? It’s easy to think of ways to retaliate; harder to think of ways to kindly respond. Perhaps when we give our opinion we should say “perhaps” instead of “the truth is.”
It doesn’t have to bother you when people disagree with you. That’s their right. Unfortunately, people who can’t refute an opinion, often choose to insult the opinion holder.
Wanted: Christian thinkers–Christ-followers who will think with the mind of Christ. For me, the perfect thought is “Jesus.” I love to think His name over and over.
