Living in fear of a politically-charged friendsgiving? 🚨🦃 Thinking of cutting ties with a friend with opposing views? Not so fast, partner!
Sure, sometimes it’s best to kick an old pal to the curb. 🥾 But before you banish your former bestie for supporting the other side, take a deep breath, sit yourself in criss-cross applesauce, and mindfully scroll through these top tips. 🧘
Here’s Five Fast Facts on friendships and politics:
- 🛑 Out of Bounds - If you’re about to go postal on a friend over their politics, it’s time to set some boundaries. Boundaries look different on everyone and depend on the situation. Maybe you set a “no politics talk” at dinner rule or simply agree to disagree. If they’re bugging you on social media, take advantage of features that let you hide or mute posts. That way you can stay friends with a person without getting triggered by their feed.
- 🤝 It’s About Us; It’s About Trust - If you *really* want to talk politics with a pal, make sure you both have a high level of trust in each other. When you respect one another and have a solid friendship foundation, it’s a lot easier to digest opposing views. To build trust, talk more about what you have in common and get to know the other person so you can understand where they’re coming from.
- 🍲 Stirring the Pot - Listen, it’s pretty rare that any of your political hot takes are going to convince a friend with strong beliefs. Instead of barking out talking points, try active listening instead. In active listening mode, your goal is to understand someone else’s perspective without pushing your opinions. Use “I” statements, ask questions, and be (genuinely) curious about the answers.
- 🩺 Full Body Scan - How can you tell if a conversation’s getting too heated? Pay attention to your mood and energy levels. Is your voice becoming too shaky or loud? Does your body feel tense? Feeling like you absolutely *need* to prove your point? Don’t be afraid to take a time out and excuse yourself from the conversation. Way better than having a meltdown!
- 👋 Smell Ya Later - It’s possible to stay pals with someone on the opposite political spectrum, but sometimes ending a friendship might be the best move. Pay attention to how you feel around a person and weigh the pros and cons of keeping them around. How long and how well you know a person also comes into play.
🔥Bottom line: Now that you’ve cleared it all up, make sure all of your friendsgiving guests know what they’re bringing to the table. Hopefully, it’s less hot takes and more hot side dishes. Mashing up your finances in a blended family? Check out this article for some amazing advice.
Have you lost friends over political views?
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