| At any given point in time, the number of strongly held | | | | inputs and ingredients collectively combine to become |
| opinions that exist on any given topic is staggering. The | | | | something slightly different each time. |
| best way to understand how so many different | | | | Examining the foundation of our own beliefs can help |
| opinions can exist is to take into account the vast | | | | us understand the uniqueness of our own experiences, |
| number of life experience combination's that each | | | | and consequently can help us understand how other |
| person can possibly encounter. | | | | people can hold such diametrically opposing points of |
| Groups of people with similar backgrounds, | | | | view, too. |
| experiences, and influences will have similar belief sets, | | | | To further explore this concept, consider the following |
| but we will clearly find diversity even within those sets | | | | questions: |
| of similarity, too. | | | | - What are your beliefs about people, society, or the |
| Life experiences, once experienced, whether | | | | environment around you? |
| interpreted as good, bad, or indifferent, can not be | | | | - Do you know why you believe what you do? |
| "un-experienced" - we become irreversibly marked by | | | | - For those beliefs that you hold strongest, do you |
| them. While it is possible to re-interpret events to have | | | | recall how, when and why you developed those |
| more empowering meanings, the events themselves | | | | beliefs? |
| never "un-occur". | | | | - What opposing points of view of others are you |
| Hence the quote: | | | | most aware of and concerned about? |
| "No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not | | | | - What life experiences of others might have |
| the same river and he's not the same man. " - | | | | contributed to those opposing points of view? |
| Heraclitus | | | | Our tolerance for opinions that differ from our own |
| While certain experiences will clearly be more impactful | | | | can be greatly enhanced by the simple, and |
| and meaningful than others, all experiences become a | | | | non-judgmental, understanding that there will always |
| part of our unique individual personal history -- possibly | | | | exist this unique combination of influences that |
| as unique as fingerprints. Or, similar to a science | | | | contribute to the formation of our own opinions, and to |
| experiment or a recipe, the unique combination of | | | | those of others as well. |