Disagree without Being Disagreeable

THE Lyrics of a song proclaim,
“I am a rock, I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain, and an island never cries.”
Unfortunately, those who live with rocks and islands
often do feel pain and cry.

People who think of themselves
as being entirely self sufficient are,
in fact, selfish. They nearly always proclaim
their opinions as the only ones that count,
their feelings as the only ones that matter.

Such a person is rarely capable
of a good argument they simply make
speeches and walk away.
If you are the spouse of such a person,
Dr. James Dobson offers this advice:

Change that which can be altered
explains that which can be understood,
teach that which can be learned,
revise that which can be improved,
resolve that which can be settled,
and negotiate that which is open to compromise…
accept that which cannot be changed.”

If you and your spouse cannot find
an area of agreement, accept the fact that
you disagree. Rather than suffer in silence
at another’s selfish tirades, simply say,
“I have another point of view.”

Open acknowledge your disagreement
may very well be your first point of agreement!
If we must disagree,
let’s disagree without being disagreeable.