𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 “𝐖𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊” 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

It doesn’t matter if you’re standing up for a belief, asserting a right, or defending your time, it’s very important to communicate about even the most difficult topics with the people around you. 🗣

🎯Here are some tips for handling tough conversations with compassion and grace:

𝟏. 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬

💁🏻‍♂️ Avoid making any assumptions about the person you’re speaking to, but understand that it’s always possible for them to have a negative reaction to your opinion. 🤨

Instead of to building up your wall of defense and becoming defensive, be open to hearing a new perspective. Know that the perspective you will hear is not your own, and observe it.

Engage with it. 🧭Explore the possibility, and work to understand it, even if you disagree.

𝟐. 𝐁𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧‘𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝

🤕Discomfort can arise in any situation when we find ourselves in where we truly don’t understand an issue or simply do not have the right answer, even when we have the best intentions. 🤒

The person you’re talking may have a vastly different experience than you, whether that be in their profession, their cultural upbringing, or their social setting, it is okay to admit when you do not understand.

Your awareness however, should not stop at the awareness itself.  🕵🏻‍♀️ Try to seek to understand.

Educate yourself on your community, your country, your laws👨🏻‍🏫 — whatever the issue may be.

👩🏻‍🏫How can you help educate others if you cannot educate yourself?

𝟑. 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧

Most of all, listen. A conversation needs to be a two-way street. 🛣

If you do not listen to the other person, you are no longer having a conversation. You may as well talk to a wall.

Be respectful and courteous of your role in the conversations you engage in.

If you are seeking to help educate someone or give them guidance  along their journey, do not use that experience as a time to talk down to someone or make them feel guilty for not already knowing what you know. 📚

👩🏻‍🏭We are all at different stages in this game called life, 👨🏻‍🏭and if that person is open to hearing you, show gratitude for the chance to connect with and guide them.📖