Understanding can be a powerful thing. Whether it means understanding people on the other side of the political aisle or just sonder in general, more understanding leads to better outcomes for everyone.
In the book “Crucial Conversations“, the authors offer a similar take, saying:
“To keep ourselves from feeling like sellouts while exploring others’ paths—no matter how different or wrong they seem—remember we’re trying to understand their point of view, not necessarily agree with it or support it. Understanding doesn’t equate with agreement. Sensitivity doesn’t equate to acquiescence. By taking steps to understand another person’s Path to Action, we aren’t promising that we’ll accept their point of view. We are promising to listen.”
I work hard to understand the ideas of others, and I try to leave myself open to agreeing with them, but understanding and agreement are two different things.
If you don’t agree with someone, that’s fine. If you choose to fail to at least understand them, that’s foolish.
