Wednesday; February 5

Have you noticed how difficult it is to take something at face value?  While this is particularly difficult when it comes to the written word, it is a struggle in just about every way we take in information.  Even when we understand we have an issue with this, it is difficult (or even impossible) to overcome because none of us were raised in vacuum.  We are all influenced by our environment and view our society by how we were raised.  Sometimes our preconceptions and stereotypes overwhelm us to the point of being unwilling to see things objectively, but the truth of the matter is that, even if we wanted to, we probably couldn’t see things with completely clear lenses. 

The reason I bring this up is twofold.  First, we need to be aware of our biases.  We need to understand how our beliefs and influences shape how we react to things.  We might be able to change some of our most damaging opinions, but even when we do we need to be aware of those that we might perceive as being benign. 

Second, let’s analyze our initial thoughts when we see or hear something.  When we are predisposed to think a certain way we need to ask ourselves if that is the right way to think.  Often, we get in trouble by giving into our impulses.  If we were to take a minute to catch our breath and capture our thoughts, we might be able to avoid some of the negative consequences of our knee-jerk reactions. 

Folks, we are all products of our environment, but that doesn’t mean that we are destined to be defined by them.  Let’s choose to make the best of each and every situation – when we do, we’ll be able to make the best out of who we can be. 

Think About It!

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