“Isn’t it interesting” was a question posed to me to question my belief about a topic. Specifically, about how men and women (with one, both, or neither in a relationship with someone other than each other) can send sexually charged material via social media or messaging and it not have any sexual meaning. (Another upcoming blog)
Isn’t it interesting that this conversation was presented in a passionate manner that evoked thoughtful consideration and behavior change from a place of respect and love. But triggered the person offering their perspective to become regretful about saying anything at all.
Isn’t it interesting that the perspective offered was logical and accurate, however, due to how he has received defensive reactions in the past, he thought he had said too much and was concerned about my reactions?
Isn’t it interesting how as a society full of intelligent, progressive thinking, and philosophical scholars we cannot explore the possibilities that our beliefs maybe skewed, inaccurate, or maybe…wrong. Better yet, many quote scriptures that benefit their beliefs, but forget in Proverbs, Ecclesiastics, 1 Corinthians, Romans, and in many more books offer us encouragement to explore and have faith that we do not have all the answers, and thus we need to keep learning.
Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version (NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.”
I’ll let you interpret the scripture however you need to in order for it to fit into your conceptualization of how this blog may apply to your life. However, I will pose one perspective that I have.
Isn’t it interesting how scripture is open to interpretation and how we have the free will to determine how it may or may not apply to any given situation. Yet, we struggle doing the same when we receive new information or alternate perspectives that may challenge us or our behaviors due to the possibility that we may be doing something harmful or basically, just “not okay?”
We live in a society where it’s not ok to be wrong or to make mistakes. We are not forgiving, yet we spout how forgiving God (and we are just like him, right?) is. We judge the actions of others without consideration of our own actions because we are righteous in our belief that we are right. We do not consider alternate perspectives because we are educated experts and there’s no way we can be wrong because if we are wrong, then maybe we aren’t perfect. If we aren’t perfect, then people will think less of us.
If people think less of us…it’s really a moot point. You have already fully relied on how other people think about you to gain self worth, value, and you’ve used all your emotional intelligence. Now you are incapable of having an intelligent conversation without becoming defensive and possibly unreasonable.
Being able to use perspective taking is a hard skill to learn, let alone navigate through a world of pain and suffering. We want to be happy, however, sometimes we are unwilling to change our circumstances and be uncomfortable to achieve our happiness. Being uncomfortable and wrong is awful if you label it. It’s can also be an opportunity to grow and make changes.
It can also be an opportunity for you to tell your own-“I was wrong and it was okay” story. We can teach our youth how to be ok with making mistakes and lessen their sense and need to be perfect. With that being said, I’m not saying settle for less, I’m saying work smarter for greater!
I was wrong about my actions. It seemed little and of no consequence. However, stepping back and listening to the logic being offered was easy and way more uncomfortable for him than it was me. I hurt for him because I couldn’t fix how years of people becoming dicks to him when he offered alternate perspectives led him to having fear of “saying to much” with his “stupid mouth.” In reality…he said just enough.
Isn’t it interesting….~WM~
Whiskey Momma 