The Power of Good Conversation

You know that old saying, “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone”? Well, here’s another one for you: you don’t know what you’ve been missing until you find it.
The other day I found that thing that I’ve been missing lately, the thing I was unaware I so desperately needed… a good conversation. I’m not talking about a pleasant chat or witty banter. I don’t mean speaking to a friend about your personal life or hopes and dreams. What I’m writing about today is a meaningful discussion about ideas.
I was tempted to call it a “debate”, but that’s too formal and confrontational. “Argument” is far too adversarial and heated. No, I call it “good conversation” because that’s what it is: good. It’s far from light-hearted, but the intention (on both sides) has to be good. And the content has to be, you guessed it, good.
So, why is good conversation so important? It challenges your beliefs, as well as the way you think. By having another person question your opinions and convictions only one of two things can happen. 1. They change your mind, which means that you walk away with a new perspective. 2. You learn to defend your point of view and, often, you will find yourself with stronger ideas than before.
Many people often forget how important it is to have an open mind. That doesn’t mean that you should withdraw every time someone challenges you, but that you should be open to listening to other people’s arguments. Don’t dismiss the opinions of others because they can often offer you new insights into the world and all the things you thought you knew.
So, go out today and have a good conversation. Don’t spark a lasting feud or belittle your opponent. Just open a discussion that means something. Your life will be all the better because of it.

Categorised in: Goals, Life coaching

This post was written by Merridy Edgson