“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” — Albert Einstein
Have you experienced an interminable deluge of individuals, whose relative existence appears to consume them by their narcissitic enchantment with their own minds? It has been woefully apparent for longer than any of us can calculate, imagine or realize that a certain number of people feel it necessary to “lecture” instead of communicate with their fellow man. For the most part, unless we’re speaking about “rocket science or nuclear physics,” information can be distilled into simple, direct terms without holding the listener hostage by endless rhetoric. Fundamentally, most individuals guilty of this are completely unaware of the stigma. Oliver Wendell Holmes put it another way . . . “It is the province of knowledge to speak, and it is privilege of wisdom to listen.”
We live in a precarious environment of endless change, that catapults our day to day life with inordinate stress and frustration. When meeting competitors, colleagues, advisors, business partners etc., the environment we find ourselves is already charged with adversity. When we become consciously mindful of how we are perceived by others through our manner, posture, behavior/conduct and language we step into another realm of responsibility. Think of how you respond to anyone who is consumed with themselves . . . points of view, importance, intellect, accomplishments, success and position. How soon do you “turn-off” from the bombardment of mindless thought and begin to physically/emotionally pull away from that person?
People understand at a level of their own essence, when another person is speaking honestly, sincerely and truthfully a connection is made. Being forthright and embracing your consciousness, while interacting with others becomes an art form which then illustrates humilty, gratitude, compassion and grace. Albert Camus put it quite simply, “Integrity has no need of rules.” JLR