Ideology

Does ideology make you a stick in the mud? In most cases, yes, . . . unless you become like Gumby: more flexible.

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Transcript

Ideology

Here's the difficulty I find with most ideologies. They cement your point of view. The minute you commit, you're stuck. There's little room for flexibility once you marry a theory.

Ideologies in my mind are fragments of reality, and we attempt to extrapolate that fragment into a one-size-fits-all philosophy that has us miss quite a bit.

There is value to a point of view, until it's the only point you view it from. Then it becomes inflexible dogma that doesn’t encourage discussion but rather engenders argument.

When you dismiss another’s point of view out of hand, you're confined by your theory and incapable of stretching yourself to see another horizon. Remember, the world remained flat for Columbus’ detractors – a group of convinced ideologues.

My departed mentor, Dr. Dave Dobson said it best:

“Theory is bullshit. Defending your theory is bullshit squared.”

Have the sensory acuity to notice that something isn’t working even if you've spent your whole life believing in it.

It takes courage to abandon a philosophy that you've argued for endlessly. It’s the type of courage it takes to leap from a burning building into a safety net below. If you don’t take the plunge, you get burned up as you argue for your position.

Theory is a great springboard towards truth. But those who remain bouncing up and down on the diving board, never dive into reality; they only pretend to know about it.

Is there an argument that you're making that's worn out and tired? Are you tired of defending a philosophy that isn’t working? Are you brave enough to blaze a new trail?

These are the questions. Your answers will either lead you to a pathway of growth, or left standing on a soapbox with an audience of one.

When your philosophy becomes more flexible, you get less "teachy" and less preachy, and attract more people to your sermon.

All the best,

John