Branch out

Challenge: Do one thing every week that you would not normally do. That's it. Just branch out with one thing - you'll be amazed at how your view of what is and isn't possible will change. Get just a little bit uncomfortable on purpose and see how it goes.

If that seems a bit much, try this. If you are a liberal, watch Fox News. If you are a conservative, listen to NPR. Now here's the challenge: Don't just get irritated at the stupidity of the other side. Listen to them. Try to understand their point of view. Read something that you KNOW you disagree with and really read it. Get into the author's perspective. Really try to find ONE thing that you have in common. One thing that you can legitimately agree with. If you can't find it, well you tried; and that is a heck of a lot more than what normally happens.

We are normally so quick to dismiss anything that we don't agree with - especially if it is something about which we are emotional - that it can be very broadening to find commonality with opposing points of view. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying "jump ship" and convert, all I'm saying is that there is value in opposition. You may think of something that you hadn't before and THAT is cool.