What Is The One Thing That Expands Our Mind? Perspectives.
Surprised? It has nothing to do with answers.
I believe that perspectives expand the minds while answers close it. It is the case for me. Whenever there is a correct answer to something, we stop thinking actively. That’s because the entire focus is now on finding that correct answer.
There is more than 1 correct answer to life. I believe in that. Especially when it comes to our ambitions and life goals. Working to obtain a Law practitioner license should not be subordinated to getting a driver’s license. Why should it be?
I love to explore the World via perspectives. Through that lens, I learned humility. Because we are diverse. A confluence of our adolescent years, education, and culture shape our thinking. No one person shares the same life resume. We are truly unique.
We will not be able to express our unique selves via correct answers. That avenue brings uniformity. It is the language of Natural Sciences. Designing a product against the Law of Gravity is absurd.
Believing that we can float around aimlessly with our physical bodies flies in the face of logic too.
Beyond that, the World is our oyster. Ask a kid the number of colors there are in a rainbow. He might answer100. Ask an adult and we get 7. Ask a dog? The answer is one (Dogs are colorblind).
Through this example, we can see how stories can be powerful. Because they are built on perspectives. Different people, different perspectives.
So, the question must be asked. How many perspectives are there? I believe there are 3 basic ones.
When I Agree.
The simplest and easiest to understand. The people who agree stand with the majority. Is it right to pursue social justice? I agree. Should we impose a minimum wage? I agree.
Perspectives do not come into play at the point of agreement. It comes after that. “Why do you agree?”.
It might turn out that people in lower-income groups agree for minimum wage policy to be implemented because they are barely making ends meet. It would be weird to say otherwise. I say this in a general sense, of course.
Never ask someone who got robbed in the middle of the night if it is right to pursue social justice. Of course, they will agree.
Where I Disagree.
Who would disagree with an increase in the minimum wage? After all, everyone is trying to make a living.
If we are thinking that way, then we are not exploring different perspectives. The recipient of wages will rejoice. Those paying for it would not.
And naturally so, because it eats into their cost of production. Thus, disagreements are likely to prevail in the business owner groups. I think the mainstream media calls them “The Haves”.
Yet what makes this angle exciting is the depth of exploration. Raising the minimum wage is not a no-no if everyone works together to increase the value of the company. Business owners will be happy to pay more.
Trouble is … not everyone wants to work long hours. Is that right or wrong? As again, thinking like that doesn’t get to the root of the issue. Some people are ambitious, some want to play.
Hang On A Second. Let Me Think.
And some sit on the fence watching the ping-pong game. They crank their neurological gears as the plastic ball of debate goes back and forth.
Why do they abstain from commenting? Do they not have an opinion? I believe they do, but they have further considerations. I genuinely hope all policymakers operate this way. Government policies cut through all aspects of life and it has to be deliberated with caution.
Instead of thinking of the employees or siding with the business owners, perhaps they should be creating a win-win situation for the country as a whole. In my ideal world, policymakers place national interests above all interest groups.
“How can we maximize the benefits for all with minimum impact on livelihood?”
I might be idealistic, but you get my point. It takes perspectives to see perspectives.
My World View.
Pursuing the correct answer might not be the only path in life. There are many perspectives that we can explore when we go beyond Natural Science.
Just like a coin. Many people say there are 2 sides to a coin. I disagree. In my perspective, there are 3 sides to a coin. The head, the tail, and the edge. That represents those who agree with me, those who disagree, and those who are deliberating.
That to me makes life interesting.
Happy thinking, my friends.
Aldric
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About the Author:
As a content contributor, I write my observations from daily life and my business exposure.
Because our life experience is the bedrock of our unique perspectives.
As a Consultant by training, I believe in making the complex simple.
Because simplicity adds value.
With clarity — We grow.
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