People disagree about meaningful and small matters on a daily basis. Sometimes you know if you speak your mind you will upset someone. However, you often must express your opinion even if you know others will disagree. By choosing your words carefully you can avoid a long-term offense(冒犯) .

“Ask people about their perspective (观点). Before being honest about how you feel, it’s important to know their perspective. This gives you a chance to show genuine interest and have a conversation. 【小题1】 They may even end their explanation with a request to hear your perspective.

·Put yourself in their shoes. One of the simplest ways to avoid hurting feelings is to imagine how they will respond to your statements. 【小题2】 Practise imagining how they view their own opinion and yours. Just because their perspective is different doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

·【小题3】 Be careful with your honesty. You want to speak the truth in kindness. That means avoiding obvious negative behaviors such as making a face or making fun of their ideas.

·Be polite in your responses. Whenever you try to avoid hurting others it is best to speak with kindness. Simple acts of kindness can make a big difference. They convey respect and show that you value the other person. This situation isn’t all about you speaking your mind. 【小题4】

·Express your perspective as opinion, not fact. This shows you value their perspective, even if you know the facts back you up. If they have an open mind, facts will change their perspective. If they do not have an open mind, facts will feel like personal attacks. 【小题5】 Allow them to discover the truth in their own way, not yours.