Compromise
One of the most important ideas in life is the difference between style and substance. As the saying goes: If what you confront is a matter of principle, stand firm as a rock . . . if a matter of style, bend with the wind. Everyone on Earth uses the English language differently. They have different backgrounds than you do and they express ideas in their own ways. What matters is the essence of what they say, not how they say it. Learning to separate style and substance will allow you to find agreement where it might not at first appear to be any and it will also allow you to more quickly identify those people whose actions do not match their words.
Speaking your own truth at every moment is not necessarily correct. There are many facets to life and situations and it may be that you do not see the whole picture. It is also possible that there are many possible solutions to an issue. Never get so locked into your own point of view that you don’t take the time to put yourself in other people’s shoes. Once there, you can decide if what you see if simply a matter of style or if, as discussed in the lesson on Steadfastness, you have a true disagreement about the way in which things need to be done.
If, for example, you know that both diet and exercise are important to fitness and someone wants you to eat a piece of cake and sit around all day, you have a serious disagreement. However if you prefer granola and running and they prefer fruit and riding a bike, you should recognize that although the style of how you express your desires is different, your goals and even your overall strategies are the same. Focus on what matters, and that is the part that you agree on. From there, be willing to entertain other ideas for how to accomplish your mutual goal.
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Compromise
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