Hello Everyone! Happy Friday! I hope everyone’s week has gone well. Any who here we go week 7 and another English reading blog. This time around I’m writing about a time were my beliefs were challenged. Question two on page 315 of our EL text. This topic is interesting because I try to pride myself on being open to other peoples beliefs. I have found myself discovering fascinating information from other people. Yet this has also lead me to question a lot of my thoughts.
I have never really ran into a defining moment of challenge, yet I have put bits and pieces of information together. Call it passive but most of the time I thrive on discovering the other persons viewpoint. I’ve found people really like talking about themselves and I enjoy hearing about it. Yet when the tables are turned and I am being questioned I find it very hard to disclose my real feelings. Therefore my beliefs are seldom in the spotlight. After reading Wheatley’s essay I found that this poor communication habit of mine is sort of doing a disservice for the world. I’m only shaping my own views and not contributing to those of others. I think in my case I need to do a little less listening and a little more talking.
Yet eventually I find that logically the info I have doesn’t fit a current thought or idea of mine. I have found that as I’ve gotten older my thoughts and views have become a tad more rational then my crazy high school days. Its been both beneficial but it has also filled my life with plenty of confusion. Wheatley in her essay explains how change always starts with confusion. Though I must say it is quite a frightening thing, to think I know something well- only to find myself second guessing it. “It is very difficult to give up our certainties- the positions, beliefs, and explanations that lie at the heart of our personal identities,” (Para 21). Yet she goes on to say that if we have enough courage to enter the abyss, we are rewarded greatly. Her essay seems to hit home with me, as I am meandering in the abyss.
This essay has showed me that the way I communicate is not necessarily the most effective. Rather than just soaking up information from other people I need to seriously have some input of my own. I think I downplay just how powerful the contribution of my thoughts are. Perhaps I feel there not as important as those of other people. Yet this essay has allowed me to see a more effective way of facilitating conversations were all parties win. Though sharing thoughts seem a little risky, it can open up the world to change, “Whatever any one of us knows alone, it is not enough to change things,” (par 13). My “willingness to be disturbed” and have my beliefs challenged has largely contributed to my open-mindedness. Yet it has also hindered my skills, thanks to Wheatley’s essay I have found that I must use moderation when instigating conversation. Transform my listening skills to equally efficient talking skills. Anyway my fellow bloggers, I hope you also can enlightened by Wheatley’s essay. Hope to hear from ya soon.
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Hey Vanessa I had a similar problem when I was younger. I considered myself a good listener, but I did not contribute. It was a fear that my ideas would not be accepted by others. Eventually I just stop caring. You can accept my point of view or hate it, but I am going to communicate it to the world. Surprisingly, a lot of people hold my same views. I learned to value the experiences and people that shape my point of view. Then I had an epiphany that my point of view is not mine at all. It is a collage of the ideas people contribute to me. Then I developed a sense of obligation to keep the ideas of people that shared with me going.
ReplyDeleteYou can not be afraid to be different. Sometimes conversations need a little paint where it ain't. Different perspectives always add to conversation. The only thing that really takes away from a conversation is silence. It takes participation to have a productive conversation, because the goal of conversation is to create a better idea with knowledge from others. Without contribution a person only gets to hear them self repeat the ideas already going through their head.
I chose the same topic as you did. Sometimes you just need to step back and realize, that just like everyone else, you have a voice. People have great words of wisdom, I think, and so do you. I, myself, find it hard to talk to, due to my insincerity of not saying anything too bright or not of interest. I have come to the conclusion that if I don’t talk about who I am or what I think then who will benefit from my existence on this earth. Listening and really analyzing people’s words to you are really important. Like I stated in my blog, conversations with other people are life’s way of teaching us lessons. Of course, not all conversations are extremely beneficial but, we can grab something out of most conversations that maybe challenge our beliefs, way of life or attitude. I’m glad you got something out of this article, it’s important to challenge your mind to my ideas and it is confusing. We just need to remember to listen with an open heart and mind, and to voice our minds so it may benefit somehow to whoever is listening! We can learn from everyone, good or bad; the hardest part is to acknowledge that it is the truth. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteSometimes it can be really hard to voice your opinion. I always used to think that I was so good at conversation because for the most part I could listen to the other side and understand it even, while most of the time keeping my opinions in tack, maybe editing them along the way. But as you said, after reading Wheatly’s essay you really start to think about the way that not talking is actually hurting conversation. We always want to be open minded and I think sometimes we are worried that by disagreeing or showing another view point will show us as close minded. But if we never speak our own minds how is anyone else going to grow their own knowledge base, right? Conversation is such a give and take and I think for the most part people tend to be either givers to takers. I, like you, will be trying more to voice my own opinion in a way that can help others better understand my viewpoint. The world would probably be a better, more educated and sympathetic place if we could all manage to do that.
ReplyDeleteThere has been a lot described by Wheatley’s discussion yet I failed to apply it to myself. When reading the essay I merely was thinking in terms of the average reader or audience in which these lines of insight affected only the them in my mind and not the me. In many ways, I too take the backseat when I find myself listening to conversation. I have been labeled as a good listener and I did not realize until reading your post how I do the same. So much as not reading the discussion with my own interest first without considering how this passage will be understood by the masses. I find that I tend to view myself as the observer and I rarely speak up to express my own thoughts in a discussion. I find it interesting when one allows themselves to be willing to be disturbed yet I too should take part in sharing for others to take on the same willingness. I also consider myself to be open-minded and understanding but at times it is more difficult for me to be understanding of myself. This may be due to being my toughest critic.
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