It’s always fun to hang out with your friends and be able to talk about things you are all interested in.

But what about when you disagree with them on something? If you disagree about something really important to you, do you lose respect for them or stop hanging out with them? Well, you shouldn’t.

My best friend and I are a perfect example. I like to go out, participate in activities and make new friends. He, however, is the exact opposite. He’s very anti-social and likes to stay in most of the time. But we don’t let that stop us from being friends. 

Sometimes we go out to events in town, sometimes we stay in and order pizza.

From him I have learned to be a more calm person and to relax, and from me he has learned that sometimes it’s good to socialize and get out because that’s how you experience the world.

We don’t try to change each other’s personalities, we accept and embrace each other’s differences.

Not only should you learn to accept the opinions of people you are already friends with, but you should actively seek out friendships with people you know are very different from you.

Being friends with people who have wildly different opinions than you can make you more open-minded.

When a friend disagrees with you over something important like politics or religion, just try to see things from their point of view. Then maybe you’ll be able to understand why they have the opinions that they do and you’ll be less likely to judge them for it.

According to GoodTherapy, it’s important to be open to opposing views. Relationships are more likely to succeed when the people involved try to understand each other’s opinions rather than force their own on the other person.

To keep healthy friendships with people you disagree with, you must look past your differences. Everybody has some good qualities.

Instead of focusing on all the things you don’t like about them, focus on the good, and let that outweigh everything else.

Everyone is different because they have been shaped by their different life experiences. No two people can possibly agree on everything, and they shouldn’t try to.

Just like love, friendship should be unconditional. If it’s not, then what’s the point?