Opinion or Opinionated?

I found this little table of comparisons on the internet. It seemed so to the point, I wanted to pass it along. Too often we allow opinionated people too overwhelm the voices of people who hold an opinion. Ask some close friends who will be honest with you. When you do, ask them how much they feel that your being in one or the other columns affects how much people respect you.

Have an Opinion

Opinionated

Keep silent until asked for an opinion

Offer an opinion without being asked

Basically trust others and their opinions

Basically distrust other people and their opinions

Have no need to prove or show something

Always have to prove or show something

No need to control people and/or situation

Always need to control people and/or situation

Secure within themselves

Not very secure with themselves

Cooperate with something, regardless of agreement

Won’t cooperate with something, without agreement

Life is a “win-win” (no one has to lose, be wrong)

Life is a “zero sum” (someone must lose, be wrong)

Easy to please, hard to upset

Hard to please, easy to upset

Doesn’t take things personally

Takes things personally; responds with back biting and sullen attitude

Okay with being wrong

Can’t handle being wrong

Serves others

Self-serving

Great guest at dinner and after

Pain in the neck guest at dinner and after