2. Know where you stand. A great place to start is to get clear about your own feelings and beliefs. It’s important to figure out what you really think and feel about an issue or candidate and have an awareness of what you believe particular political candidates or parties represent. This may sound basic, but being clear about this helps to avoid arguing for the sake of arguing. Be clear about what you believe, but be open to hearing an alternative view. Getting clear on what you think and feel does not mean that you can’t learn new information, integrate it and change your mind. It is important to find the things that are central to how you operate in your life. You don’t have to know the ins and outs of every bill in congress and you don’t have to know where every candidate stands on every last issue. It is important to know however, what matters to you! For example, if being kind to others and accepting differences in race, gender and creed is important to you, this will influence your opinions of who you want to be in public office. It’s always a good idea to know the origin of your thoughts and views.
3. Be a Good Listener. Just as you would want to feel heard and understood when expressing yourself, make sure you provide a listening ear for your partner. It can be tempting to jump in and try to get your point across or if you hear something you don’t agree with. Be mindful to let your partner finish their statement, ask a question to clarify if need be, and then respond.