I wonder if you heard of that person who had quite a reputation as an outstanding marriage counselor?A trainee had the opportunity to sit in with the experienced counselor and the first day, after observing his counseling technique he was quite disappointed.
He said, "I am dumbfounded!"
"When Mrs. Baker came to you this morning complaining about her husband, you listened. When she finished, you said to her 'I agree with you, Mrs Baker, your husband is impossible and you are doing everything expected of a wife.'"
But this afternoon, Mr Baker came to see you and he complained of his wife. You listened and said, 'Mr Baker, you are right. You are married to an impossible woman. You are doing everything expected of a husband."
"That's ridiculous," complained the trainee to the seasoned counselor.
"You told them both they were doing fine and that their spouse was to blame.
Either the husband or the wife has to be doing something wrong.
They both cannot be totally right and both totally wrong!"
The counselor thought about the accusation and then he said,
"You know. You are right. You are so right."
When we listen compassionately and open our minds up to the views of others we will see a little bit of truth in nearly every opinion. It may be a partial truth or a twisted truth but still a bit of truth.
People who remain open to others will often feel like the counselor caught between the Bakers.
Its frustrating but seeing both sides of an issue is a necessity.
Image: A counseling relationship.