Co-existing through disagreements

I’m not interested in politics, especially since I cannot vote in my home country.

But even I can’t ignore the impact of politics around the world.

I recently bumped into a friend who started discussing politics and got upset with me for not agreeing with him.

Hoping to change the conversation topic, I admitted that I didn’t know enough about the subject.

Instead, my friend got aggressive and upset with me until I told him I was late and had to leave.

I’ve been reflecting on how I could better handle such situations in the future, and I’ve decided to treat each encounter as a learning exercise to understand how and why people think the way they do.

After that encounter, I messaged my friend to say, “Hey man - sorry I had to leave abruptly the other day. It was good to see you after such a long time. Reminded me of the fun times we used to have at <rour previous company>.”

To which he replied, “Yeah man. Sorry if I came on strong the other day. Let’s catch up one of these days. I promise no politics talk 🤐🤐”

We met, and it was great fun. It reminded me that two people can coexist despite disagreements and different interests, ideas, and beliefs.

Eventually, we spoke about politics, agreeing to disagree amicably while giving each other space and time to voice their thoughts.

I get it. It’s hard to understand how someone you care about can support something you disagree with.

But at the same time, how do we ever move forward if we stop talking to those who think differently?

After all, we all have the same fundamental challenges in life — putting food on the table, caring for our loved ones and finding meaning in what we do.

When we strip away the noise, we realise that most of us want the same things at our core.

If we can focus on that, maybe we can start seeing each other as people first—before politics, before labels, before differences.

Coexisting doesn’t require changing our beliefs to recognise that others have the right to theirs.

It requires us to make an effort to find common ground and remind each other that we are all, in fact, human.

Today’s Prompts

1 - If your goal isn’t to “win” an argument, what should it be instead?

2- Think of someone whose views you strongly disagree with. What do you have in common with them that goes beyond politics or ideology? How can you use this common ground as a way to co-exist and thrive together?

3 - How do you balance standing up for your values while remaining open to understanding other perspectives?

4 - What boundaries can you set for difficult conversations so they remain respectful and productive?

Get the most out of your journalling:

• Choose one prompt: Focus on just one prompt each day to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

• Be brutally honest: Reflect openly and honestly. This is your safe space to explore your thoughts and feelings.

• Take your time: Sometimes it takes a few days to clarify your thinking. Here’s permission for you to take your time to unravel a prompt and not take on any new ones during that time.

• Journal your way: Whether you prefer writing, audio recording, or video, choose the method that suits you best.

• Don't stress about streaks: If you miss a day, don't worry. You can always revisit a previous prompt.

I’d love your feedback

What was your favourite prompt of the day? Is there any specific challenge you want prompts for? How can I improve the content of the newsletter? Reply this mail and let me know!