We’ve all been there before – getting into an argument or disagreement with someone and being totally convinced that we’re right and they’re wrong. It’s easy to get caught up in our own point of view and dismiss other perspectives. But being open-minded and considering different explanations is an important skill for living harmoniously.

Let me tell you about my friend John. He would frequently get into debates with our other pal Amy. They had such different worldviews that they would argue for hours, each convinced that their perspective was the truth. One time they got into a heated disagreement about the meaning of a poem they read in English class. John thought the poem was happy and optimistic while Amy saw it as dark and pessimistic. They went back and forth, criticizing each other’s interpretations. Neither would budge.

I could see both of their points. There were elements in the poem that could be viewed both ways. I tried to gently suggest to John and Amy that the poem might be open to different reasonable interpretations. But they were so entrenched in their positions that they couldn’t see the other side at all.

It wasn’t until our teacher stepped in and validated that smart people could read the same text and come away with very different but valid perspectives that John and Amy finally backed down. That conflict was a real learning experience for all of us about trying to understand alternate views.

Now when I find myself in a disagreement, I try to take a step back and consider the other person’s perspective. Could they be right, or at least partially right? Is my view the only way to see things? Asking these questions keeps me from getting too stubborn. And sometimes it has even led me to change my opinion!

Expanding how you see the world takes humility. We have to recognize that our beliefs are shaped by our unique experiences and backgrounds. Other people inevitably will interpret things differently than we do. And that’s okay. Their perspectives don’t negate our own. There is often merit in both views.

We shouldn’t be so quick to judge other’s opinions as wrong. Be willing to listen and put yourself in their shoes. You just might gain a new understanding that adds nuance and depth to your own beliefs. Keep an open mind! There’s always another side of the coin. Considering different explanations will make you wiser in the long run.