We as humans have a tendency to only see what we want to see. It’s like a social reticular activating system.

In our brains we have a system called the reticular activating system. It helps maintain our consciousness. If it’s damaged, then you usually slip into a coma. It is also responsible for filtering our all the things we sense every day. If you imagine all the things that are available to our senses: cars driving by, smell of the exhaust, birds flying, blue sky, sounds of music and driving, feel of the steering wheel, residual taste of lunch or chewing gum, thinking about work, family, etc. We are constantly bombarded every day, every minute, every second with sensory input. The RAS filters all the noise out and let’s us concentrate on what we need to concentrate on: for example, driving.

We sometimes fall into that same mode in our social behavior. We only listen to what we want to hear. We only accept input from whom or what we are most comfortable. We only take out that part of a complex situation that we agree with or that makes us feel good or justified or important.

That’s not true community. That’s not truly striving for a vision, in the generic sense that a vision is a goal to move toward. For a vision to work it must have many components, many points of view, many voices to be strong and coherent and alive.

The three worst words in the English language are “I know that.” When we say that, our brains shut down and we take in no more input, no more points of view, no more growth.

Thanks for the post Jacq!

Dale

Oh, and as far as quotes, here's a good one:

To do is to be - Nietzsche
To be is to do - Sartre
Do be do be do - Sinatra

:)

Dale