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9 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,M arch 10,2022 insidehalton.com TRUSTED for over YEARS With so many things go- ing on these days that can divide people, it's likely that we all experience con- versations in which we completely disagree with someone else's values, be- liefs and stance. This does not mean, however, that discussions need to turn into argu- ments and we can't have re- spectful talks. Ending a relationship over differences of opinion is certainly an option, but isn't always the way we want to go. The following are some tips to keep in mind to com- municate respectfully when opinions are at odds: • Replace judgement with curiosity. Rather than telling someone they are wrong, think about trying to grasp where they are coming from if you're inter- ested and try something like, "Help me understand your take on this." • Use questions. Rather than saying "That's wrong," try asking some- thing like "Is it possible that there's another side to that?" Conversations are two-way streets, and re- spectful give-and-take can help us see and consider different perspectives, even if we don't agree with them. Hearing what they have to say doesn't mean that you have to change your ideas -- what you be- lieve is always up to you. • Respectfully communi- cate your opinion. It may be tempting to agree with someone just to keep the peace and avoid conflict, but you may end up feeling an- gry or discounted if it's all about the other person. There's nothing wrong with saying, "I don't agree. This is how I see it." Say what you think just like they are say- ing what they think. • Monitor your thoughts and feelings. If you or the other person are starting to feel angry or frustrated and are having trouble communicating respectful- ly, recognize that and take a break before you say something you may regret. "This is a big topic and I need a minute" is an idea to take some time out. • Set your boundaries. Sometimes, discussions be- come stalemates, and we don't see value in continu- ing them. We don't need to hear everyone's opinions or resolve every difference, so feel free to take things off the table by saying some- thing like, "Let's agree to disagree and talk about something else" or even avoid conversations you're just not interested in with "This isn't something I'm comfortable discussing." How people choose to communicate their opin- ions is a different thing. If you find that someone is being disrespectful, ag- gressive or threatening or you are otherwise feeling uncomfortable, there is no need to continue the con- versation. Rather than es- calating things, calmly say, "Can we talk about this without name-calling?" or "I'm not comfortable with the tone of this discussion, so I'm going to end it." Some extra mindfulness of how we communicate can help us keep things re- spectful, and that's key to maintaining the relation- ships that matter to us. Melanie McGregor is the communications and advancement specialist at the Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch, which provides mental health/ addiction community sup- port and education. Visit www.halton.cmha.ca for more information and follow @cmhahalton on Twitter. A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION DOESN'T HAVE TO TURN NASTY OPINION HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO DEAL WITH DISAGREEMENTS, WRITES MELANIE MCGREGOR MELANIE MCGREGOR Column The Oakville Beaver values the opinions of its readers, and the communi- ty at large. With that said, we wel- come your letters to the ed- itor on all matters that im- pact area residents. We ask that letters be no more than 275 words, and include the full name and town of the writer. Your address and tele- phone number must also be included for verification purposes only. We do not publish anon- ymous letters. Letters will be edited or rejected for of- fensive content, factual er- rors, legal issues or space restrictions. Send your letters to insi- dehalton@metroland.com. SEND US YOUR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR