I’ve got bad news. If you look at the World differently, if you often find yourself biting your tongue at a suggestion that the majority of your peers or colleagues don’t seem amenable to consider - you’re in for a long ride.
I don’t know if this is a British thing, by the way. I know for a fact I can only speak of the culture I've lived and observed first hand. That much is true. It may then be that you read this in Ohio and think, “what is this joker talking about, Robert Cole Jr III is always open to my crazy new ideas”. Well, good for you!
Until then, please accept as written testimony - this is my lens and I believe myself to be no better - but no worse - than anyone else.
This philosophy isn’t mine, actually. I confess I nicked it from my darling ol' Mother. A human who I won’t embarrass too much here - let’s just say she’s everything prophets of humanity would have wanted if they could design a person’s soul and an angel.
Through our Irish blood connection, I think we’ve inherited a pragmatic way to view the cosmos. A kind of pseudo-catholic buddhism. One of the mantras my dear ma’ and I share, though - is that we train ourselves to first believe that we are neither superior nor particularly inferior to others.
This mindset is actually very powerful. Because first it humbles you with ego; then it builds you some stout walls of confidence - that no other can or should feel themselves any better than you in return. It’s an equality mindset, a constant challenge to self - strive for merit, because you are you. Let others be them. Nothing in my life embodies my values of tolerance more than this mindset.
I don’t need to unpack it any more than that for you, if you begin here. Exactly here. You'll be content.
Knowing in your heart that you are neither better or worse than anyone else - you become self-regulating - avoiding the corruption of your soul. Because that, dear reader, is a risk we must all face. A peril, a gauntlet, a bane - I don’t know. We're all only one decision away from a so-called sin. Greed and hubris have long been friends. A reality. You fight it with this remarkably simple little paradox of wisdom. Use it wisely.
I think it's a kind of love and forgiveness.
