Finding Common Ground

Disagreement is easy, but not productive. Find out how to find common ground in this mini podcast.

 Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

Find the written versions of these podcasts on John's podcasting site: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628038

"The Grasshopper" is the part of you that whispers pearls of wisdom that  seem to pop into your mind from out of the blue. John's essays and blog posts are his interpretations of these "Nips of Nectar." Others have labeled his writings as timeless wisdom. 

Most of the John's writings revolve around self improvement and self help. They address topics like:

• Mindfulness
• Peace of mind
• Creativity
• How to stay in the present moment
• Spirituality
• Behavior improvement

And stories that transform you to a wider sense of awareness that presents more options. And isn't that what we all want, more options? 

John uploads these podcasts on a regular basis. So check back often to hear these podcasts heard around the world. Who wants to be the next person to change? 

Make sure to order a copy of John's new book: WISDOM OF THE GRASSHOPPER – 21 Days to Creativity. These mini-meditations take you inside where all your creative resources live. And you'll come out not only refreshed but recommitted to creating your future. 

It's only $16.95 and available at BLURB.COM at the link below. https://www.blurb.com/b/10239673-wisd...

Also, download John's FREE book INTER RUPTION: The Magic Key To Lasting Change. It's available at John's website  https://GrasshopperNotes.com

Transcript

Finding Common Ground

I once had a man say to me, “I totally disagree with everything you just said.”

Everything.

I paused for a few seconds and then I heard myself say, “How boring would life be if we all agreed?”

And just like that, it became the beginning of a very agreeable conversation.

Here’s what I’ve found: you can agree without giving up your principles. You just have to agree in degrees.

Instead of drawing a line in the sand, find out how far you can walk with someone before you reach an impasse. To what degree do you agree?

Maybe it’s not a hundred percent. Maybe it’s twenty. Maybe it’s five. But five is more than zero.

And that’s where compromise becomes an option.

If you slam the door on what they have to say, you miss the opening to any possible area of agreement. Half a loaf is better than none. And your degree of agreement sets you up as someone they can work with . . . instead of being a foe.

So put your hard and fast positions aside and listen to the other side. Find something — anything — you can agree with, no matter how small. That small agreement? It’s a paving stone to more agreement.

Before long you’re walking side by side, stride for stride . . . 
until you reach a point where you just can’t abide.

That’s when the deal-making starts — the give and take that bakes the cake.

It’s easy to disagree. Anybody can do that. But disagreement plants you on the other side of the fence, instead of using your common sense to find some common ground.

And as that great philosopher — Bobby Shakespeare, Bill’s brother — once said:

“To agree, or not to agree . . . that is the question.”

All the best,
John