ASK, THEN LISTEN
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
We live in a world where what we do and who we are, are defined by words – it’s a semiotics exercise, one that sees us conjure notions of understanding someone, about what makes them tick, and how they might feel just by their label, their word, or their title. Or how they look. These are sometimes right but more often incomplete and inadequate descriptions.
For example, what if all you knew about a job applicant, a business prospect, or a prospective date/mate, was one word – would you pre-judge them?
I think we do …
Environmentalist, feminist, CEO, union member, engineer, psychologist, Uber driver, trucker, professor – or make your own list – what notions do you suddenly have before you meet someone or have a conversation?
It’s like seeing someone tall and athletic looking and expecting they like basketball.
And more poignantly, we need to not make assumptions because someone is of a different race, gender, country of origin, or what education or career they have – these are not the measures of anyone. Those are the wrong metrics to judge anyone’s value, purpose, or worthiness for themselves or anyone else.
We can’t stop ourselves, nor should we want to, from observing that which is obvious – but let’s not stop there; let’s dive deeper into someone’s thoughts and feelings and learn how they see the world before we make any judgement or voice an assumption about them.
Reader feedback:
Good morning Mark, Such an encouraging musings for all of us, but especially someone trying to change direction (or at least evaluate their direction) without beating themselves to a pulp! , SF, Lethbridge, AB
Mark, you are a wise man and I'm grateful when things you share are raw and make us think!!!!, KK, Calgary, AB