Sometimes we feel we are the only ones who think in a particular way and that others don’t think like us. There are times we express ourselves and air our different point of view but often we choose to keep our thoughts to ourselves, wondering whether there is any point in getting into an unnecessary discussion which may lead to an argument.

Each one of us has an idea as to what we want from life and the way we want to live our life. Sometimes this may be different than what those who are close to us want and the choices they would like to make. We struggle with knowing when to adjust and when to assert ourselves. The fear of straining the relationship is always a concern and at the same time we too have a need to live our life the way we want.

Often we position the situation as my-way or your-way. It doesn’t have to be that way if we are willing to explore a different dimension of life.

When we allow ourselves to re-examine our own thinking and include a new and different way of doing things, not only do we grow as a person, the relationship grows.

When we realise that others come from an experience, upbringing and background very different from ours, we recognise that this presents an opportunity for us to expand the way we think, rather than limiting discussions just because we think differently.

When we carry the humility and grace to accept that another way of thinking was probably better than our own, not only do we discover the ease and comfort of dealing with a different way of thinking, we seek diversity in thought to help us enrich our own thinking.

Being open to a different way of thinking does not mean that we lose our individuality. It just means that we lose the hardened stand we often take and risk losing out. We just need to be mindful that our ego does not prevent us from losing out and building strong bonds with people who do not think like us. Theirs could be the thought we have been missing.