Recently I’ve noticed how people try to push their opinions onto you as if they are trying to force you to believe what they believe. It makes you feel as if your opinion doesn’t matter especially if it isn’t the same as theirs, and sometimes you try refrain from voicing your opinions on certain topics to avoid this type of situation. But why should I-should you-feel the need to close our minds and mouths around these irritating and imposing people? We shouldn’t. It’s okay to have an opinion, a belief, or a perception, but it’s not okay to make someone feel like they are less because they don’t share your thoughts.
I’ve especially seen these situations pop up more and more recently due to the presidential election. Social media twists and alters facts about what’s going on and what’s being said causing the clashing of opinions to grow even more intense. Family and friends each have different beliefs and thoughts on who they believe would be best for our country, and they argue constantly about which candidate is better. Someone once told me that when debating a topic, you should “attack” the opinion and not the person. Voice your beliefs but don’t do it in a way were someone feels belittled. Everyone is entitled to believe in someone or something without having someone smash them into bits.
I too have felt the effects of someone constantly badgering me about my beliefs on certain topics. Not only is it irritating, but it also causes you to question yourself and what you believe. They make you feel as if you’re not good enough because you don’t share their thoughts on whatever it is you’re discussing. They shoot down every reason you give them for believing in what you do, or they call you impressionable because of your age or gender. Honestly, I’ve learned to accept that not everyone is going to accept what I believe and that’s okay. Let them try to persuade you, but stay true to who you are and what you believe in, and in the end that's all that matters.
When we are little our parents and the adults in our lives at the time drilled beliefs into us about what is right and what is wrong. Their opinions become our opinions on which is which, and granted some of those beliefs should be labeled as facts because there are somethings that should never been done like pushing your cousin out a window when you’re three, but as we grow up and become our own person our opinions and beliefs change with us, and although our beliefs will differ from those around us it’s okay to be different and not go with the flow.
We all have opinions. We all have beliefs. They are all different in some way or another, and that’s okay. Debate with your friends stating your reasons for believing in what you do, but don’t do it in a way that you push your opinion onto them. Don’t cause them to doubt themselves because they don’t share your thoughts. Just remember if we all thought the same way, the world would be boring.
