Having a frank and honest conversation about sex, particularly with your significant other, can be vital to preserving a healthy relationship. The only way you may be able to work through problems is through an open dialog, and you shouldn’t be made to feel awkward or uncomfortable.
Whether or not you hold strong religious beliefs, its critical (and incredibly interesting!) to gain an understanding of the different religions and values that others around you hold. This is not a mandate to proselytize – one must always respect the beliefs of another – but an open conversation about your own religion and others’ may prove very informative.
People with opposing political views often have trouble seeing eye-to-eye on many things, and this often stems from a lack of understanding about the views on the other side of the aisle. While it’s important to respect one another’s political beliefs, just as it is their religious beliefs, a healthy debate can help unearth a side to things you hadn’t yet thought of.
Often parents think that avoiding the topic of drugs altogether will keep their kids from wanting to try them out. But in fact, a more open environment when it comes to discussing drugs may be beneficial, as kids can learn the dangers of drugs and the warning signs that they may be about to enter a dangerous situation.
We all have families, so it stands to reason that we all have problems with our families. Divorce, in-fighting, arguments over the will – these are all problems we’ve had the misfortune to face at some point in our lives. Rather than shouldering the burden alone, open up and take comfort in others sharing similar difficulties.
This is not to mean that one should brag about salary, or the big bonus they’re going to get for the holidays. But when money is such a taboo topic, many people don’t realize if they are practicing dangerous money habits – falling prey to bad loans, predatory lending, or unintentionally digging themselves into debt. Open conversations about money can help avoid these pitfalls from the get-go.
Better out than in, right?
Illness, and mental illness in particular, are a horrible taboo that shouldn’t be so. It’s incredibly important to be able to talk about these issues in the open, and not to feel shamed if you feel as though you are suffering from any type of illness. In order to seek and receive the proper care, talking about illnesses is imperative for all of us.
Body weight, strength, beauty – these are all things that we may be ashamed of, or proud of, but either way, we need to be able to discuss them in a judge-free manner. If you feel as though you are struggling with your weight, maybe you’ll receive helpful dieting or work-out advice, or find that your friend shares the same concerns and is looking for a running buddy. While we shouldn’t focus obsessively on our personal appearances, avoiding the topic altogether isn’t healthy either.
Those who believe that we live in a race-blind society are blind to the racism that still exists. It’s important to recognize biases, advantages, disadvantages, and social constructs that still exist in order to overcome them and achieve greater equality.
