How do we talk about issues that matter?

How do we talk about issues that matter? Depending on the topic, talking about issues that matter are very controversial. The way to go about this first is to have an open mind. People will always have different or similar opinions, but having the will to listen thoughtfully and respectfully is how we talk about issues that matter. The exchange of ideas and perspectives is essential to human society, we talk, listen and engage in various conversations to learn, grow, and experience new or old information. In our recent discussions about golden lines, I recorded the golden line, “Engaging in civil discourse means bringing your mind, heart, and conscience to reflective conversations.” I believe this golden line also exemplifies how we should talk about issues that matter. In the essence of bringing your “mind, heart, and conscience” to civil discourse: your mind should, again, be open to new information, your heart should be unlocked of past information you learned, and your conscience should be aware of your verbal and nonverbal messages sent out from your body. I believe a big part of engaging in issues that matter is your nonverbal cues. The way you are expressing your face or body language can give off different tones of emotion to either your listener or messager. Another way to talk about issues that matter is online. As Laura Tavares said, “We humanize what is going on in the world and in ourselves only by speaking of it, and in the course of speaking of it we learn to be human.”