The list of things the right and left share in common seems to grow ever shorter. But conservatives and liberals alike can share these New Year’s resolutions.

1. Before Spreading News, Seek Truth

From our smart phones to our TVs, we’re constantly hit with a stream of news — that may or may not be true. To ensure you’re not succumbing to or spreading fake news, it’s vital to do a bit of your own investigating. And not just from your favorite publications. Fact is, publications are biased, even the ones you like. Because no matter how objective a reporter thinks he or she is, their work is influenced by their own worldview. And they may not even realize it.

To earnestly seek the facts, it’s important to read multiple reports from various publications. And when you can, go directly to the source.

For instance, did both The New York Times and National Review report on new government data? Look at the data yourself before buying either analysis. Did both CNN and Fox News report on something a politician said? Go watch the full quote or video clip before agreeing with either outlet’s interpretation.

In short, be skeptical, even of publications and reporters you trust. There is almost always more to the story.

2. Don’t Ridicule Entire Groups of People

It’s easy to make caricatures of people who aren’t like us. Millennials are cry-babies. Trump voters are bigots. Coastal elites are snobs. Evangelicals are stupid. You know the examples, for they are legion. In fact you probably see them many times a day in your own Facebook feed.

There’s a problem with these caricatures, though. They dismiss all the detailed experiences that led each person in that group to the opinions they hold. Most grievously, they give us an excuse to reduce someone to a few attributes, rather than see them for the complex human being they are. 

Caricatures also alienate. Just look at how many conservatives distrust the mainstream media. It’s due in no small part to the media’s sweeping (and often false) generalizations about them. Or look at how millennials are diverging from their parents’ views. Could it be related to the fact that older generations (especially on the right) constantly call us “snowflakes” and make us the object of derisive jokes?

3. Listen to Those You Disagree With

Nothing gives you a skewed view of reality like surrounding yourself exclusively with people who think exactly the same way you do. Venture out of your echo chamber and start listening to opinions you disagree with, even if it irks you.

One simple way to do this is to start following people of different political affiliations and diverse backgrounds on social media. And don’t hit “unfollow” or “unfriend” as soon as they post something that makes you mad. Try to understand why they think that way. 

An even better way to listen, if you have time, is to read books by authors from across the aisle. Random tweets may give one a glimpse into a person or movement’s ideology. But again, people are far more complex than 280 characters. If you really want to understand your opponents, delve into a few books written by some of them. 

And the best way to listen to someone you disagree with? Listen to them in person, with your physical ears, by befriending them. Got a coworker whose politics you can’t stand? A neighbor with revolting bumper stickers? Take a cue from Foster Friess and invite them to coffee. Or at least strike up a conversation in the break room. Ask questions about their beliefs, and actually hear their responses; don’t just formulate your own argument as they speak.

Such listening will help restore compassion in our culture. But there’s another bonus: Understanding opposing viewpoints often bolsters your ability to defend your own beliefs. And who doesn’t want to hold their own in a robust debate?

4. Hold Your Own Side to a High Standard

Fake news. Sexual misconduct. Corrupt acts in government. These are blots that have stained both sides of the political spectrum in the past year. And we shouldn’t be surprised. After all, people are human, whether there’s a D or R after their name.

What’s even worse than a Democrat or a Republican making a mistake? When members of their party give them a pass for political gain. And unfortunately, there’s been a lot of that recently, as well. 

Of course, it’s ten times — nay, 1,000 times more fun to point out problems in your enemy’s camp. But if enough individuals do their part to hold their own side accountable, the nation really will be better off. Just think about how much our politics, newsrooms, entertainment industries and more would improve if everyone focused on cleaning their own house for a while.

Hope For a Better 2018

Differing opinions, even political ones, aren’t the end of the world. They can even be healthy.

What’s, well, maybe not the end of the world, but a disaster, is when people forget how to treat those they disagree with respectfully. When our imperfect and limited ideologies become more important to us than decency, kindness and shared humanity. 

We’ve seen a lot of that in the last couple years. If enough of us adopt these New Year’s resolutions, maybe 2018 can be different.