The Positivity of Understanding

Now more than ever, there is a tremendous positivity in understanding.

Photo by MJ Blehart

Unfortunately, 2020 has shown that people are frighteningly good at being unreasonable.

For example — those who consider mandatory mask orders and social distancing to be violations of civil liberties. What they are telling me is that efforts to keep more people safe in the middle of an incurable pandemic are unimportant? Do they have some form of immunity so that they can walk around without a mask or practicing social distancing?

Then there’s the election. The incumbent lost. But he is such a sore loser that he can’t accept it. So, he makes up a false narrative, when asked for proof says I AM the proof, and gets people behind him. No proof, no evidence, just a big lie to maintain control — never mind the tremendous damage being done to the democracy.

People are showing themselves to be not just unreasonable, but to have a complete and utter lack of understanding. Things that should be logical and sensible aren’t. People are far too willing to follow demagogues and opinions over science, reason, and understanding.

It is impossible to make anyone practice understanding. Reason and logic seem self-explanatory — yet people refuse them.

And there isn’t a damned thing you or I can do about it.

But we have a choice. You and I get to practice understanding.

That is more powerful than you might realize.

Empowering yourself

It is far, far too easy to get caught up in the bullshit of the world around you. Just spend 10 minutes scrolling through Facebook and/or Twitter and you will be bombarded. Opinions, memes, smart people sharing things idiots shared. Idiots wearing signs so that you know just who they are. And opinions? They’re not like assholes anymore because everyone has way more than one.

Let’s face some sad truths, shall we? Some people legitimately believe, here on the cusp of 2021, that the Earth is flat. Not a joke, they legit believe it. I could offer someone who buys this every single scientific fact to prove that the Earth is round — and they will tell me I am wrong.