A common shortcoming of human nature is the need for others to agree with us, accept or understand us. This is a tricky subject because we have to be open to feedback to grow, but at the same time on many occasions it just simply doesn’t matter if another person agrees with you or not. What is it about human nature that just has to be right and have others cosign? Not you huh? Ok let’s see, have you ever had an argument about something, that hours later or maybe days later you realize it has zero importance? Have you ever had an issue with someone that in no way shape or form affected either of your survival or your overall quality of your life? If you’ve ever been involved in an argument of the sort (I know I have,) then yes you also suffer from the shortcoming of needing to be understood. 
Every argument comes down to you seeing something one way, the opposing individual having a different perspective (often neither perspective is right or wrong) and the two of you yelling trying to get the other person to hear your side.
To take it even further, do you have a friend(s) that you talk about these arguments with? You tell them your side, not because you truly want their opinion but you want to feel like you’re right. Now both people in the argument have their friends agreeing with them, telling them they’re right and that the other person is wrong, and we continue on “knowing” that the other person is simply unreasonable. Oh yea what was the argument about again? 
I think it was something like “There is a way faster way to get to the destination” , “Please tell me why you’re always texting” or “You said you were gonna get home at 9, and it’s 10”. I’m sure you can think of other examples, the point being it holds very little importance in the grand scheme of life.
If there’s not an actual goal on the horizon, it’s fair to say most arguments are a complete waste of time. Now that’s not to say conflict isn’t an important part of life. If this situation is going to have an impact on your quality of life, whether it’s your family life, relationships, or career then something needs to be said and being quiet won’t help you one bit. In moments like these it’s important to state your opinion and express yourself. But the key is first seeking to understand as opposed to seeking to be understood. It’s much easier to create a win/win scenario when you understand where the other party is coming from. This is a critical point for negotiation. What’s your counterpart’s view, what’s actually important to them, and can they get that while you get what’s important to you as well? Believe me if the opposing person feels understood, you’re a lot more likely to reach the outcome you desire. And guess what? If we can’t reach a point where we accept each other’s view, or I can’t win in this matter, no problem at all… let’s move on, no deal.
Even though I believe that the need to be understood is a shortcoming, it’s still vital to understand that most humans (if not all) will have this trait on one level or another. In this sense you can never quite have too much empathy.
People like people who they feel are on the same page with them (All opportunities come from people, so yes having a network of people is valuable, not a topic for today’s post though). Simply listening to a person and hearing their side is often all they desire. Many just want to feel like someone understands where they are coming from. My motto has become if someone comes to me with a problem, unless I can see that person heading for a train wreck, I’m just listening. It takes a lot more energy to disagree with them than to listen and understand their view. For me to disagree with you, I have to take the time to really dissect what you said, think of my own way of seeing it, and then tell you that your way is wrong. Now you and I are going back and forth because I want you to understand what I’m saying and vice versa. And remember, this has nothing to do with me! 
If it’s not a dire situation, learn to offer your opinion when asked and in meaningless situations just listen and sometimes just agree. More times than not, the only reason the person is sharing the information with you, is because the person they were arguing with didn’t listen to where they were coming from (no surprise there!).
Finally, if you offer advice and another person doesn’t agree or they aren’t ready to receive it, SO WHAT? Remember that it doesn’t matter if a person doesn’t see things the way you do. In most cases there is no right or wrong, there are just different perspectives. All in all, remember that it’s better to seek to understand than to seek to be understood. There is victory in reaching a point in which you don’t waste your finite energy in pointless arguments. Also in reaching a point where other’s opinions don’t stress you out or hold you back from reaching the horizons you aspire to reach. I won’t grow from another person hearing my perspective, but I may grow if I listen to theirs and learn a new perspective. 
There are problems we each face that each individual has to be motivated to solve on their own. You can’t solve other’s problems and they are often not asking you to. They just want to be heard. Live and let live!
*The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress – Joseph Joubert