I’m going out on a very shaky limb here. Then again, in this day and age, just the simple motion of exhaling can lead to a combative response from someone. “Trying to understand” is a phrase expressing an effort to comprehend something, whether it’s a concept, a situation, or a person’s perspective. It signifies a conscious attempt to grasp the meaning or nature of something, even if it’s not fully or immediately successful.
Sound like a reasonable viewpoint?
My sensibilities are often challenged by those who put their own spin on things and there are times when it’s downright maddening and I cannot understand why. When this takes place, I usually step back to observe and it’s generally in some way which favors the agenda of the person in question. That, in itself, often results in the misinterpretation and exaggeration of the subject at hand. Plus, there are those individuals who move to selectively highlight details in order to fortify their position on a topic. Many of us have more than likely witnessed this when the simple meaning of words become altered, worse yet, twisted. In the meantime, the emphasis is focused just on certain aspects of a given situation while ignoring others.
What often follows is the framing of an event in such a way that it makes it seem more positive or negative than it actually is, such as interpreting an event or situation in a way that aligns with another’s own beliefs or biases. Attention is drawn to certain aspects while minimizing or ignoring others and effectively changing the way a situation is perceived. Euphemisms come into play in order to make something sound less serious, or harsh, or engaging doublespeak to obscure the true meaning. Narratives are built around events or situations, shaping each to fit a desired outcome or to possibly persuade others.
Being human, we all have certain basic needs and one of most basic is the need to understand and be understood. That seldom gets much attention and it should. Without the ability to understand what others say or the meaning behind their words, we can miss important cues, lose out on opportunities, fail to see changes in the so that we can appropriately react and end up going off in a totally different directions. Worse, if we lack understanding, we are more prone to engaging in selfish acts rather than helping others.
As Dale Carnegie once stated, “Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.” Very true. In the meantime, I’d really like to know, to understand, what the color 9 smells like.
From the Writer’s Workshop: What do you wish you understood better? Why?
