Lurking in your head

How narrow is the box you live in?
No, don't answer that. I don't expect you to know. I don't expect you'll want to tell me, even if you do know. But think about it and maybe come up with an approximate answer. You don't have to tell me or anyone else. But deep down, you'll know something.

Now, how often do you try to step out of that box? How often do you choose to listen to opinions that oppose your own? Do you do that at all? Careful now, listening just so you can argue back doesn't really count. If you're starting conversations where all you want is to destroy the other's argument, that's not really what I mean. Sure, it's good, and maybe you're right. It's good to try and show people the truth, but it's also good to listen.

Might change your mind. Might not. But if you're protesting by default to anything new or different to the story in your head, then where does that leave you?

If you're an atheist, do you shy away from religious people? Or do you take them on gladly, ready to destroy each of their beliefs?

What skin is it off your nose if they believe? If they're not harming you, then why do you seek to harm them?

Because you can. Because it's within your nature to want to prove your superiority. But it's not very healthy. You should listen more. Or try to.
You already know the ideas that are in your head, but you might not know the ideas in someone else's. They might be good ideas, or they might not. But either way, they will help you. Either to question your own beliefs or to strengthen them.

Neither of those things will happen if you always talk, talk, talk. Just to show how clever you are, all that you know. It's important. Because these people, they live on your planet, too. And you never know just when your destiny will be affected by theirs.
Listen up, folks.