I remember reading somewhere in Eckhart Tolle’s, 'A New Earth' (and I'm paraphrasing)) that "when we define ourselves by our beliefs, the psyche feels it's being annihilated when it encounters an opposing belief!" Isn't that how folks are REACTing these days, in such desperate, divisive, and mean-spirited ways?
Mindful of this, I remember a life-changing maneuver I employed years ago while getting ready to attend a dinner party. I was well-acquainted with the host and knew him to be exceedingly vocal about is religious and political beliefs.
I observed my 'Edith Ego' starting to dominate my thoughts, rehearsing all the clever ways I could show up and JUST SHOW THAT GUY how very WRONG he is concerning all HIS beliefs he was likely to be imposing on his guests.
OBSERVING those thoughts, my AUTHENTIC SELF came through and overrode them! Then I got the notion to attend the dinner while holding MY BELIEFS in one hand — SEPARATE from the rest of me (since I AM NOT MY BELIEFS) — and focus on enjoying myself that evening.
Fortunately, I happen to be ambidextrous. I write with my left hand and do everything else with my right...
So that evening, as I sat among the other guests at the dinner table, I kept my left hand under the table in my lap — imagining that hand holding my beliefs — while the rest of me showed up and enjoyed the dinner party. I disagreed with all I heard while the host bloviated, but his words did not offend me!
It was truly amazing, the difference it made, the lack of angst I felt when I separated my AUTHENTIC self from my beliefs! (I AM NOT MY BELIEFS!)