As I was walked around the mall, I came upon a group of teenagers looking up towards the ceiling and humming. That was awesome, so I asked them what they were doing.
They told me they were praying.
"But why are you praying in a mall?"
"We want to spread the word of god."
"Oh, that sounds nice... how long have you been praying for?"
As we continued to talk, I told them of my disbelief in god, and they told me of their faith. A chance encounter with some random strangers turned into a fascinating discussion, in which I made some great friends that I still talk to to this day.
A teacher of mine once said that there are three things you should never talk about at the dinner table: Sex, Politics, and Religion. She wasn't just talking about the dinner table of course. What she was really saying was that you should never discuss any of these topics with anybody except close friends. Many years ago, I would have agreed with her. Those topics are dangerous. They're controversial; they're divisive. I thought it was better to talk about "safe" topics like sports or what you did that day.
Recently I've had a change of heart. A big change of heart. Not only do I talk about sex, politics, and religion frequently... I talk about them with strangers. In fact, most of the best conversations I have are about these very topics. This comes as a huge shift in the way I think about conversations and communication in general.
Being "safe" vs. Being Safe
The truth is, there are no "safe" topics. The notion of safe topics is a band-aid, trying to cover up a gunshot wound. The entire idea of a safe topic in fact comes from the opposite mindset of safety, it comes from a mindset of fear. If you truly felt
Safe, you would be able to talk about anything. And therein lies the crucial shift.
Instead of using a band-aid, I want you to become a conversational surgeon. I want you to be able to create a climate of real
safety, that allows people the freedom to speak their mind, without the fear of being judged or condemned.
This is the first in a series of articles that will give you the mindsets, skills, and courage to create this safe climate. But it all starts with a decision. Are you going to be "safe" your whole life, going around being nice and polite and liked but never truly knowing anyone? Or are you going to step up, put yourself on the line, and truly get to know people on a core level?
The choice is yours.