“The farther one travels…

the less one knows.” These are the words of George Harrison in the Beatle’s song “The Inner Light.” They came to me as I was reading Proverbs–“A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.” (17:27 NLT), “Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.” (18:2 NLT).

One of my favorite books is “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey. In his book Covey lays out 7 habits that are common to people who have learned to live “effectively.” Effective living simply means giving much more to the world than you take (my definition).

Covey’s fifth habit is “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” In other words, before judging a situation, make sure you fully understand what is going on. Fully understanding a situation requires us to take the time to listen, observe, ask questions and ask more questions. Fully understanding requires us to know the situation as well as the person explaining it to us. In his book, Covey explains it takes the virtue of consideration in order to fully understand where another person is coming from.

The more I choose to try to understand others, the more I realize just how little I know in the grand scheme of things and in turn the better able I am to help others or become more valuable to my wife, kids, family, profession and the world. It is our own personal prejudices and opinions developed over the years that often get in our way of understanding and gaining wisdom. Today I know the more I choose to understand the “wiser” I will become, “The wise are known for their understanding.” (Proverbs 16:21 NLT).

There was a time in my life where I thought I had all the answers and those answers created bankruptcy in all aspects of my life and a 5 week ticket to a chemical dependency center. Today I know the only way to find the answer is to first realize I don’t have it.

I find life much more enjoyable when I’m taking more time trying to understand instead of being understood…but I’ve got to be honest, people who do not try to understand and only want to be understood often require more understanding from me than I am capable of having and that is when it is time to have the courage to stand up and be understood…the second part of the 5th Habit and a topic for a future blog.

P.E.A.C.E.

Jay@EagleLaunch.com

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