The sixth strategy for connecting with conscience is: Listen to Other Opinions
Listening is a big problem in the world today. We are not receptive to hearing a different viewpoint. Dissent has become taboo. We need to be willing and capable of hearing other people’s opinions because it helps us connect to our conscience.
What does conscience have to do with listening to the opinions of others? Isn’t conscience about listening to the voice of wisdom within?
Conscience discerns truth. We don’t always see the truth about ourselves or about the reality we face because our vision is limited. Other people may see something that you are not seeing.
How willing are you to hear a different perspective? How much effort do you put in to understand why they are seeing it this way? They have their own reasons for believing what they believe. They might have an agenda and want you to get on board with them for personal reasons. What is good for them is not necessarily good for you.
But knowing that people can be wrong should not make you stop listening to them. You can also be wrong. You should not allow them to dictate to you. But you should also not see in them an escape from freedom and responsibility, as in: ‘He thought it would be a good idea. She wants me to do this.’
Listening means listening to understand how they see things and why. What sense does it make as it appears through their eyes? What can you learn from their take on it? Even if you conclude that their reasoning is flawed or full of lies, understanding why they are seeing it this way will enrich your discernment.
The more angles, the more complete the picture. And the bigger the picture you see, the more accurate your judgment will be.