(Distinctions are subtleties of language that, when gotten, cause a shift in a belief, behavior, value or attitude.)

 

Clarity — knowing stuff, having answers — is useful. You have spent most of your life learning what you need to know to have your life work. But life has become so complex that it is impossible to know everything.

A poor solution is “sound-bite” education, the process of learning a little bit about something and extrapolating that to the whole. You compound the problem by defending your position, thereby cementing your supposed clarity. As a result you can have great clarity about the wrong stuff!

A better way is to become aware. To be aware requires that you let go of knowing and assuming. When you are aware, you can see and hear and feel. That will give you all the information you need. The result is clarity.

 

Copyright 2002 Steve Straus. All rights reserved.