ONE thing is to hear about a story, but it is crucial to know that you know your story. Who else would? Sometimes people ask this question, but really, how well do you know yourself and your story?
Sometimes we are afraid to go beneath the reflective surface of your conscious thought. I always remind myself that in a deep pool of nearly forgotten lived experiences that affect what we as human beings, how we feel and what we choose to do.
Another important question to ask oneself is why do you like the music you like? The kinds of friends you make? Why do some things make you feel deeply happy? Why do other things make you angry?
Your particular story lies beneath all those aspects of your conscious life. Religions and philosophers convey the same wakeup call that it’s important to be in touch with your story— and that for two reasons.
Our parents, spiritual leaders, philosophers, organisation gurus always remind us that knowing your story can help you understand yourself, especially your strengths, your limits and why some values are especially important to you.
Again, they tell us knowing your story helps you understand that all other persons have their own stories and those affect their thought, their feelings, their moral values and even their ability to act. Knowing your story helps you understand where others are coming from. But, it is unfortunate to find that one who is so close to one’s own story may not see it as a story.
Things happen to you and you make choices, but it takes a special kind of thinking to see how it all connects to shape you. If Members of Parliament (MPs) from opposition and the CCM ruling party will be willing to contemplate their choices they might be able to reach an amicable solution in the current standoff in the House in Dodoma. Philosophers keep advising us that we have to develop that special kind of thinking. How?
One good strategy is to read. Read good literature, stories with strong character portrayal, not just action stories. Read good literature from cultures other than your own, too. I was expecting the MPs to challenge the former speaker of the National Assembly by responding to his arguments that the CCM MPs are not bullying the opposition and that the Parliament is not a rubber stamp.
Alas, no one from the opposition has done so, instead we continue seeing the walkout episode from the House. What a pity! Some people are too biased and prejudiced to read about Chinese philosophy or Islamic civilisation, Christianity or Indian Buddhist values or even other cultures. Why not put your bias behind and start thinking positive about other cultures and values. Definitely that helps you understand and appreciate yourself.
It also helps you develop empathy - the ability to understand and appreciate others. Empathy is very important on the Moral Highway especially for those representing the electorate in the National Assembly.
We are also advised by philosophers both in our religions and ethical world that everyone has to reflect on one’s story, to make conscious those nearly forgotten lived experiences.
Thus, through such reflections one can better understand where one is coming from. But even then, one needs to be a bit skeptical about one’s picture of oneself. My take is that self-deception is a common risk—drawing a picture of yourself that’s more flattering than accurate.
As you reflect on your story, pay special attention to what other people think of you and how other people respond to you. Be ready to laugh at yourself, too.
0 comments:
Post a Comment