DAY 33 – KEY ASPECT: LEAVING IMPORTANT FACTS OUT OF THE EQUATION

I am sitting in a classroom listening to a lecture about foreign policy. The lecturer has spent decades involved with representatives of governments from around the planet. When a student questioned the accuracy of a point he had made the lecturer’s answer seemed dismissive and condescending. The lecturer acted as if he knew everything there is to be known about foreign policy.

Human beings have a tendency to think they have many, if not all, of the answers and solutions to life. Believing that their thoughts are accurate and factual people do not realize that many unknown variables are at work and anything can happen at any moment that may change the outcome of what is going on.

Look at how often we make assessments and judgements about an individual person, a specific group, a specific event or a specific situation without knowing and understanding all of the underlying aspects that have a bearing on what we are assessing and judging. We do not take into consideration that there is something deeper within every person, group, event and situation that has led to what has occurred in the past, is occurring at that moment or will occur sometime in the future. Our perspectives often do not tell the whole story.

While human beings need to assess what is going on in life and come to a viewpoint about it we must also learn as much as we can beforehand so that our assessments take into account a broader range of knowledge and insights. There will always be something that happens that we do not factor into our analysis but we need to be adaptable to the unknown and unforeseen. Sticking strictly to a point of view leaves no room for new information to enter into the equation which ultimately does not get us to where we want to be, accurate assessments and beneficial actions that lead to a better life and better world.

Listening to this lecturer I now realize that no human being can fully understand all of the underlying aspects of what occurs in life. Because of this I may leave important components out when making assessments about another human being, a particular group, an event or a specific situation. I have to learn as much as I can before coming to a perspective that may affect myself, my fellow human beings and planet earth.