How’s it going this morning? I hope that all is well with you and that you had a great weekend and that you’re ready to start another wonderful week!
Last week we were talking about the following quote by Bill Bullard:
“Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge… is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another’s world. It requires profound purpose larger than the self kind of understanding.” – Bill Bullard
I was also speaking about how I carelessly served up my opinions in the past as if they were absolute, grounded-in-truth, gold-plated facts. It’s an interesting revelation to self-assess and realize that you’re doing something that doesn’t really make sense. That was the case when I found myself being critical of others ill-conceived opinions when I was issuing them myself.
Does all this mean that all opinions are bad? Of course not! Sometimes opinions are just opinions. For instance, if someone asked you what you think of the weather. If you say that you feel it’s too hot or too cold, you’re right either way. In cases like this, your own personal reality forms your opinion. Some things are just subjective, right?
These days, when someone asked me a question, I have been known to pause in order to give that particular question due consideration. Believe it or not, I have been criticized for pausing. That’s amazing to me that actually giving some thought to what you’re about to say can be viewed as a bad thing! In reality, wouldn’t we all be better off if we gave more thought to what we’re about to say before we said it? Perhaps people believe if they answer a question rapidly that others will believe they are right or smart.
Just for the record, it’s also fine to just say, “I don’t know”. Sometimes people will be irritated by that response because they feel they must have an answer. Others, on the other hand, will respect your honesty and candor. They will also respect the fact that you didn’t just pull some nonsense out of thin air which might’ve led to an answer that leads them down the wrong path.
Well, that’s all for now!
Have an amazing day and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers!
Love,
Dad