More Collective Journaling. Thank you, Peter Limberger!
Quotes of the Day: "Write beautifully what people don't want to hear." ~ Frederick Seidel
Prompt: What topic or theme that’s controversial or polarizing would you like to see expressed (or write yourself) in beautiful words that open minds and hearts to a more holistic way of seeing things?
Or: write about what’s alive for you now.
____________________
Too often I want to change your opinion, as if by some magic my opinion was right and yours was wrong. And too often I have learned that my opinion was not right and yours had values I did not appreciate. Yet if I don’t talk about controversial or polarizing topics my opinions hear only my inner dialogue, one dominated by my ego and desire to be right.
I need the crucible of conflict to break through my biases, my stories, my way of seeing the world. Without your perspective I will be limited to my own. This is the power of the scientific method. Imagination and beliefs are shared, tested, and reinforced or challenged by the perspectives of others.
In science, the level of confidence required is very high. For imagination and belief to be accepted by science, the ideas must be reproducible, regardless of the unique perspective of the individual. We even believe that there is some science that is “universal”. This science, often called “hard” science, where “hard” means immutable across vast amounts of time and space, exists beyond my perception, beyond humanity, beyond life as we know it on this planet.
But what of my other stories? Those that are local to my own existence? Those that live in my head for only the brief moment of my lifetime? How do I “test” these ideas? My imagination overflows with beliefs, often driven by my need to feel in control of my life. My ego rewards me for believing I am right, driven by some evolutionary advantage of self-righteousness. But what if I want to know more? Be aware of more? What if I realize my perceptions are limited and the world is not?
If any of this rings true with you, then I commit to listen, to understand your point of view, so long as you commit to do the same with me. We will never have the same perspective. We cannot. And thank goodness! That is our power, our survival advantage! We are two different windows on the world. And I would like to see more than my pinpoint view allows.
And so it begins...
