I hear you

I hear what you’re saying but I don’t have to agree with what you’re saying. People often act as is listening means agreeing, and if you don’t nod along, suddenly you’re doing something wrong. Opinions aren’t facts, they’re just perspectives. You can take in what someone says, understand it, and still have your own view of things.

A lot of the time, people expect others to match their energy, mirror their thoughts, go along with everything they say. That expectation turns simple conversations into arguments.

Even when you understand where someone is coming from, it doesn’t mean you’re co-signing it. People want to be heard, but often only on their terms, and that’s where it gets frustrating.

Acknowledging someone’s words while holding your own is a basic thing. But people act like every 

difference has to turn into a situation. Opinions can coexist, they don’t need to be the same. You can be in the same space, hear and understand everything, and still be allowed to keep your own views.