Having different opinions is very common. Usually if you have different opinions with your friends, you just accept it, and move on. However, what happens when you and your parents share different opinions? Every family dinner there could be remarks and comments about each other’s opinions and viewpoints. Having different opinions than your parents can cause stress, miscommunications, and frustration for all parties involved.
The amount of stress and pressure you may feel from disagreeing can greatly affect your relationship with them. At first you may think that it doesn’t matter that you don’t see eye to eye with them, but eventually it will eat away at you. You’ll notice that at first it won’t be a big deal, but it will build over time. Eventually you may snap and that will negatively affect your relationship.
Try to understand you family member’s position. Try to see the world through their eyes, and understand why their perspective is the way that it is. If you at least understand where they are coming from, you may be able to reach an agreeable compromise. If you’re able to talk to them about their opinions, then hopefully they will be willing to listen to yours. Continuously arguing over the same differences will just continue to drive a wedge between you.
If you’re able to come to an agreement, it’s time to forgive and forget. You can’t have a healthy relationship with anyone if you keep bringing up the past. Keeping score of wrong doings will create a bitter resentment towards each other. You must be able to forgive and forget it you want to fix your relationship. If you don’t, you might find yourself in a sticky situation with no help.
You don’t have to agree with everyone’s opinions, but you need to be able to have a functional relationship with them. Throughout your life you will find that you will disagree with plenty of people. Just don’t let it hinder your potential to grow as a person. Taking the time to learn about other viewpoints will only help you build your own library of knowledge.