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Why some people proselytize and how to not get triggered…
Have you ever been in that super uncomfortable position when another person asks you about your belief system? When you know they aren’t open to hear what you have to say, but instead have an underlying agenda to convert you to their way of thinking?
Proselytizing doesn’t only happen with religion, although that can be common. Anyone who’s a passionate advocate for a political party, ethnic group, sexuality, gender, the environment or a particular cause might try to convince you to feel the same.
There’s a lot of polarization in our world right now. We’re publicly exploring our deepest held values and who holds the power to say which values are right and wrong. I prefer to find a third option that meets the needs of as many as possible, but black and white thinking is still prevalent.
This practice of trying to convert others to our way of thinking is as old as the sun. You see, we feel more powerful in numbers. We want to know there’s a like-minded crowd that has our back.
In many ways, finding our tribe can be healthy. We each need a small circle of those who understand and accept us. Research shows we live longer when we have healthy, loving relationships in our lives.
