I think if you choose to see things on both sides, then it’s not very difficult, but if you do not, then you won’t. Choices could be made because of fear, pain, misunderstanding, but it’s a choice. I mean, I don’t want to insult anyone because some people do see things from both sides, but they still decide to feel the way they feel, and it’s O.K. People just don’t agree sometimes. It doesn’t make them any less intelligent, they just don’t agree.

But what if you find the other side of the issue appalling?

See, for me personally, I don’t judge that. I don’t personalize things, even things that happen to me, I can’t judge that. The laws of the universe will take care of it, definitely. That’s the way it works. Those are the laws.

It’s something I struggle with in terms of wishing I could still listen to R. Kelly, who I was a fan of. But now I have sort of a visceral reaction to the music. It feels tainted.

You say you can’t help feeling that? Well, I mean, you’re supposed to, that’s who you are. There’s nothing wrong with that.

But then I don’t know what to do, right? Like do I …

What do you mean? You’re doing it.

Well, what I’m doing is I’m not playing his music, and that makes me sad.

Why?

Because I enjoyed it, it meant something to me.

Oh. But it makes you sick.

That’s the conflict.

I understand. You could be an empath. That’s empathy for pain, that’s what you have. It’s a beautiful thing.

Well, it’s hard to live that way in practice sometimes.

Yeah, it is. I mean, it’s a challenge every single day. But we have to live moment by moment and try our best. That’s it. Don’t feel guilty about who you are and how you feel. I just try every moment to be conscious and cognizant and fair, not only to others, but to Erykah.