May 04, 2010
Refusing to see another perspective
I have been thinking a lot about my ability to see and accept another person's point of view even when I disagree. I often like to think of myself as being open to others' perspectives. In the last month, I have struggled to get Greyson (3) to see my perspective, rather than accept his point of view. As a result, I have created a dynamic that has put us at odds with each other.
As I wrote about this experience in the article, Perspective Taking, I realized something about how I am able to intellectually accept someone's perspective, even to the point where I can articulate it, but I refuse to go beyond surface acceptance. By accepting the perspective from a cognitive standpoint, I can feel good about myself, and yet not change.
If I am able to feel that perspective in some deeper way, it begins to change who I am. It impacts me far beyond what some intellectual exercise on perspective taking would.
What I realize is that sometimes I want to change and sometimes, despite saying I do, I really do not want to change. Not an easy thing to accept about myself, but the truth nonetheless.
Go to the article on Perspective Taking
Giving power over to others in authority
In our culture we often give over our power to individuals whom we believe have more knowledge or authority, such as doctors, dentists, teachers and others considered “professionals.” As a child, I was expected, and in turn chose, to go to doctors when I was sick. I looked outside of myself for cures to whatever illness I had. My parents were socialized to accept the authority and decisions of doctors and dentists and until I was in my 30s, I did the same.
Read the rest of this article….
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All the best, Teresa
