With so much political controversy taking place in the United States today, there is no better time for us to have open and understanding conversations with our friends to discuss different viewpoints, current events, and alternative solutions to today’s problems.

Here are 10 reasons why YOU should start initiating peaceful discussions with your friends:

1. You get to see from a different point of view.

If you give yourself the opportunity to practice open-mindedness, you will get to see where your friends are coming from as they’re explaining their beliefs. Maybe you can learn something new, or even grow in your beliefs.

2. You learn a set of facts that maybe you haven’t heard yet.

You have heard so much of the same information from the news and social media, by talking to your friends you have the chance to hear new facts that could stem from your friends’ own personal experiences and emotions. This will challenge pathos and ethos in a way that you wouldn’t get to experience from watching the news or developing ideas with others who share the same perspective as you. It will also make you go home after the discussion and fact check everything your friend said- just to make sure.

3. You get to practice your articulation.

When you’re thinking about your beliefs by yourself, it can seem like you have everything figured out for the most part. Unfortunately, when we start talking to others about our beliefs, especially others who oppose our beliefs, it is easy to stumble on our words or say something in a way that we didn’t intend. By having these discussions with our friends we get to practice our articulation around people who won't judge us or be offended if something wasn’t said how it was intended.

4. You have the chance to practice keeping calm and being kind, even if you disagree.

It is SO easy to get angry when talking about controversial topics. By establishing a mutual understanding with your friends that you enjoy their companionship, regardless of their views and opinions, it gives you a security blanket of knowing you won’t lose them because you have different perspectives. You have the chance to practice keeping calm, cool, and collected so you will be able to do the same in a more formal setting.

5. You become closer to your friends because you get to have the chance to understand why they believe what they believe.

Recently, I got to be a fly on the wall while two of my friends had a political discussion (which is what inspired me to write this) and it turns out that neither of them had any idea that they had such opposing views. Now, they both feel closer as friends, because they got to learn more about one another’s pasts, their differing beliefs, and why they each believe what they do.

6. Your confidence builds up.

We have all been at some sort of family event where grandpa or somebody will say something political, igniting a downward spiral of yelling and maybe even some fist slamming. A little part of you has always felt like you want to join in, but these people know way more than you do (plus they’re a little intimidating). By practicing open discussion with your friends, it will build your confidence and you will eventually feel like you can hold your own when you want to join in.=

7. You feel like you are actually discussing something that matters.

No more gossiping or small talk. Talking about current events and world issues is interesting, eye-opening, self-affirming, and allows you think critically and establish your own opinions.

8. You become motivated to find more resources that back up your points.

Not only do you want to fact-check your friends after a good debate, you also want to find more resources to back up your own points so you can up your credibility (and sound really smart in the process).

9. It gives you the chance to become heated and get into an argument in a safe place with people you feel comfortable conversing with.

So, maybe you can’t keep your composure and bite your tongue any longer. That’s okay! The time to get heated is when you’re with your friends, in a safe place. Not when you’re at a formal meeting and a controversial topic comes up and you start yelling. There is a balance between standing up for what you believe in and coming across as unprofessional (in a way that could tarnish your reputation or hurt your career). So, the best place to tip the scales is when you're with friends.

10. Gives you the chance to compromise or come up with a solution together.

Although my friends have completely different perspectives, their discussion ended with them concluding that in the end, all they really want is for people to be safe and happy. How will that happen? Will that ever happen? They don’t really know. What they do know is that there will be many future discussions similar to the one from the other day, where they can expand on their ideas and talk more about plausible solutions, rather than focusing on their differences.