Understanding

Fresh landscapes of the mind is the topic today. Our own understanding of the world is our inner landscape. Dealing with other people introduces their inner landscape to us, and vice versa. Communications uncover how these landscapes are different from one another. It is the stuff of unique personhood that emerges during our relationship over time.

Some emergence is fascinating – a different way of seeing an idea or concept; or interacting with a world view that is truly challenging to our way of thinking. The world view isn’t necessarily right or wrong, just different. The challenge is making it somehow fit with our own world view. Why the difference? How is the difference measured? Is the difference minor or of major consequence? Does it pull on our logic and pressure us to think in a different way?

Interacting and understanding these fresh landscapes is both challenging and exciting. The challenge to overcome past experience so new experience is possible can be upsetting. Old ideas are pushed aside so new ones can enter the logic stream. What was comfortable is now uncomfortable. Glimmers of light hint at seeing things differently. The light shimmers a bit and bounces off other unknowns; it is not altogether understandable but it does take form.

Eventually ideas fall together and make sense – a new sense – of things we are still getting to know. Nothing is totally clear but dimly we sense a direction the thinking is taking us.

Decisions are made in time based on these understandings. Little by little a new reality takes shape. And this happens ever unfolding through consciousness.

The process is static but for a moment. That is its nature. Bit by bit the world comes into focus in tiny pieces. Understanding grows from these intersections of living moment to moment. But only if we are open to them.

These intersections are plentiful. Sometimes it takes effort to cultivate the awareness. Examples –

• The body changes, ages really; sensations accumulate not felt in prior times
• Accommodating an aging body allows us to live with pains and aches natural to the process of aging
• Observing other people living their experiences, their truth, gives experience to me
• Blending those experiences toward fresh understanding of broader issues creates ideas previously unthought
• How are others different from ourselves – gender, age, culture, religion, ethnicity, race – the many ways we are different from one another
• What do the differences mean?
• How do all these things come to equilibrium moment by moment so we can grasp them and realize their uniqueness, and meaning?
• And do we purposefully think of these things so we are challenged by them? Or do we avoid them? 

Equilibrium is a point of balance, a moment of understanding the new and the old in juxtaposition to each other. That balance might not last very long as different aspects of the same thinking come to mind and lead us toward a fresher equilibrium. This process is a struggle to understand the world surrounding us. And the process is a basic intellectual process that demands attention and energy from each of us.

Not all people care to engage this process. It can be frustrating and confusing. Especially true if colleagues are not similarly engaged and committed to finding collaborative equilibrium.

All groups do this sort of work on a continual basis. It is interesting and vital to the group’s health. But not all people are comfortable with this process. Some are authoritative and want to dictate results or conclusions of the group. Others don’t like making conclusions but prefer to continue the intellectual maneuvering because it is fun to them. Still others detest this ‘not knowing’ basic facts as acceptable norms and retire to less stressful use of time.

Group life for me is a testing ground for ideas. It is exciting and refreshing. How about you? What is your reaction to group life? Do you seek it or avoid it?

Inasmuch as our political lives have changed with the last presidential election, I suspect much group thinking will be taking place in the coming 12 to 18 months. News cycles, too, will be challenged to accommodate many ideas in need of understanding before they are included in our intellectual banquet.

For now the menu is undetermined but promises a large feast to taste and digest before making conclusions. A lot of work to do this is in store for all of us so engaged.

I wonder how well we will do? Or if we have the stomach for it?

Time will tell. At least we know what is required.

January 3, 2017