[wolverine876]

IMHO, it's the most valuable, important learning in life (and a great feeling). And the most important learning skill is to have the open-mindedness to believe there is something to it when we don't understand, and patience and persistence to discover it. Some things have taken decades, some are yet undiscovered.

Two techniques I use that help, though are not panaceas: 1) Many differences in perspectives come down to different agendas. If you see a trumpet and expect jazz, you are going to have a hard time understanding other uses of it. I try to look for their agendas. 2) More broadly, there's another presence in the room, the artist. They have a completely independent universe in their head than my own - theirs has nothing to with me, it's not a variation on mine, it's not an argument or debate with mine. Focus on them, forget about me.