Margaret J. Wheatley: Pairing/Disturbed Texts

Reading that this was written in 2002 is slightly shocking, for it seems very fitting for 2021. “Hope to the future,” this seems to be one of the statements many are holding onto going into 2021. After all 2020 entailed there has been a lot of hope centered around 2021.

This is something I could get behind. There is something about getting over a fear or something that previously disgusted me that gives a sense of relief that “Oh, maybe this isn’t so bad.”

After reading this sentence I instantly got flashbacks to my first two years of high school football and being hammered with the phrase “you have to be uncomfortable with the uncomfortable” endlessly. Coach Dablow would even bring this quote off of the field and use it to motivate us in our everyday life.

I feel like in today’s times most people are living in their own echo chambers. They surround themselves with people who believe what they believe and will repeat what they say. I see this most commonly with religious people or people invested into politics. I see ourselves becoming increasingly divided in a time where we need to all be unified.

One of the keys to knowing what one truely believes is having one’s beliefs challenged. If a person still believes what they claim to believe after someone challenges their ideas then it is a belief. However, if someone can make a person change their beliefs by simply posing an alternative view then was it truly a sound belief to begin with?

I identified an unknown word here and looked for the definition for better clearance of information being presented. Paradoxically: in a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory way

I prefer when people challenge me and make me explain my viewpoints. It makes me out more thought into what I am doing or believing. If someone can’t explain their side with facts and certainty, then they probably need to rethink why they have those thoughts.

I would like to point out the author’s wording in this particular sentence. She says “No one person…” as in, one singular person cannot give us the answers, but it is possible that many people working together could. Their ideas and experiences together might create a solution that is beneficial to all, not just some, or even one.

To have all the answers to the universe is impossible because no one can gather that much information in just a lifetime.

When we talk about not knowing something, many people are not willing to admit they do not know something. I feel society has put this feeling out that if we do not know something we are “dumb” and do not know anything. This is not true because not knowing can lead to us discovering more information from us trying to know the answer. People need to get rid of the idea that just because we do not know something means we are “dumb.”

I feel like the expectation to have an answer ready often makes a conversation frustrating. Something I have come to terms with however is admitting that I don’t know. It is a whole lot easier than making it up on the spot or fretting until you have an answer.

Probably the largest step to learning is breaking from the familiar. Taking a step back from what we know as the most comfortable will allow optimal growth and development.

Here I thought the “admitting you don’t know” part applied only to certain things. As students, we probably admit that we don’t know something all the time. The difference between that unknowing and the one she’s talking about is being at risk of something—usually embarrassment, or being judged. So, you could see why it’s got to be frustrating to admit you don’t know only for humility to be your answer. There’s a saying I just thought of too: “would you rather be ignorant for a moment or remain a fool for life?” So, I’ll take Margaret Wheatley’s side on this subject, but I do think it is neaive.

Correct, because we hold our futures in the palm of our hand. There’s a magnetic pull to any action you do that causes a chain reaction, but you have to make decisions for yourself before you decide to let anyone else do it for you.

In his well-known (one of the more highly viewed TED talks or YouTube videos in the category of thought sharing), Robbins reduces the reasons we do things to six items. The first of these items is “certainty.” More interesting is that his second item is “uncertainty.”

https://www.ted.com/talks/tony_robbins_why_we_do_what_we_do?language=en

There is some language in the TED talk. Advisory here. An appearance by Al Gore within the presentation makes a historic timestamp.

This is not exactly the same, but it reminds me of the first chapter of our textbook, “Thinking about Literature.” The “many-Mindedness” section tells us to become comfortable with ambiguity and contradiction, and to listen to others, particularly when interpretation differs from our own. (11)

This hits home for me, because I often get upset if I dont understand something or I am confused on something but like she said we need to expect ourselves to be confused.

In his TED talk, Clint Smith speaks of four core principles in his classroom: two of these are Speak Clearly and Tell Your Truth.

https://www.ted.com/talks/clint_smith_the_danger_of_silence/transcript?language=en

This is a phrase I have been told a lot in life. I do find it to be true, if I am ever asked a question I do not know the answer to and I reply back acting as if I am 100 percent certain what I am saying it true then nine times out of ten people believe me. While this may be a good tacit, if it is used in the manner to avoid admitting confusion it can be hurtful. A lot of times I use it in a joking manner or in a situation of little importance, however if I used this to justify everything I did and believe and never accepted being wrong, I would never learn and thus be stuck.

Our opinions are our opinions. Everyone’s opinion is a true opinion because there is no such thing as a false or wrong opinion so then why should be have to be taught to state our opinions as true if they always are?

Ever since I could remember being in school, I have always been scared to raise my hand or speak up out of fear that my answer or statement could potentially be wrong and others would have different views that criticize my own.

I know that some people are scared to ask questions, especially when provoked because of fear. I can admit I am the same way in the classroom setting, but never really outside of that. At home or gatherings of really any sort, I have always been able and encouraged to ask questions. And with those questions come rewards: knowledge, sometimes something physical like candy, or even a provoking thought.

I feel that a lot of students may feel annoying asking questions after questions just because they do not get the material. I know someone who did not get a certain math class and the teacher ended up getting annoyed of them. And it was because they simply were confused. Have we ever been rewarded? What was the reward?

Most people are so confident in their own opinion that they dont take other peoples opinions into consideration. We cause arguments because we “dont agree”. we should let out opinions be challenged by others thoughts.

This paper was written in January 2002. A whole year before I was born, and the sad part of this observation is that things haven’t changed. In my opinion our divide has only grown with the events that took place in 2020. Back when Margaret Wheatley was writing this, she basically begged society to start listening to each other. She asked us to think about what others said and actually contemplate their opinion. I personally feel as if we have failed Margaret Wheatley some way. Sure we attempted to come together to fight COVID-19, but in the end we failed to fix the problem together. Think back to what Margaret Wheatley seemed to ask of us back in 2002. Now think about how we have ultimately failed to do this.

In RISK.FAIL.RISE: A Teacher’s Guide to Learning from Mistakes, M. Colleen Cruz cites Kathryn Schultz who describes KNOWLEDGE as “Beliefs with citations.” An interesting push on the idea of knowledge and what we know.

I would like to reiterate that this article was written in 2002. What might the author think of the world now? What might they think about the state of our nation? The world has gotten much bigger and much more accessible than it was then.

I think this last sentence has held through the challenges of time. We live in a world FULL of the unknown. Despite this, people have worked together to make solutions. We have adapted, and the longer we spend in the unknown the more we can learn about our world and each other.

Using the words “not knowing” at the end of the paragraph sent the wrong message to me. As I read, it seemed as though this sentence was trying to say that we need to spend less time researching new concepts and trying to find solutions, and more time just being complacent with not knowing. While it is okay to not know, there should always be a drive to find out and understand. I feel that this sentence almost goes against what the whole piece was trying to get across.

I feel like this sentence is even more true today than it was back when this essay was published. Everyday it seems like there is something new and unpredictable happening that we did not see.

As much as Wheatley presents the idea of confusion, curiosity, and change as a catalyst for change, here she suggests that we DON’T have to change. Our beliefs “lie at the heart of our personal identity.”

I would have to agree with Wheatley when she says that it is hard to give our certainties. I feel like this is true because no one likes to admit that they were wrong about something.

Looking at this question it uncovers a lot of feelings and emotions. There are many things in this world that define us. Some of those things include race, gender, and religion. These things define us to others, but what defines yourself to you? What are you all about?

When I hear we can only accomplish changing the world by working and thinking together it saddens me. In today’s society, we are very divided just because someone thinks differently than them. I cannot imagine a world where everyone comes together for a better future and world all together.

Here, we see Wheatley tell us that confusion is okay and not okay in a sense. We really want to hold on to what we see as true, our certainties, because that is our identity. But then, Wheatley reveals that she thinks the way to succeed in changing the world is to challenge those beliefs. Do you think this way because it is what you were thaught, or do you think this way because you chose to do so? We need a sense of curiosity or wonder, just to inspire change… then we need to think about a different perspetive and how it will impact them.

I would like to believe everyone wants what is best for the world and wants to have a good life. However, it is a matter of what they believe will get the world to that point. There is a lot of evil that occurs and a lot of evil people who try to gain control, but it would also do some good to look in their perspectives. They want the control to change something that makes them unhappy, and they believe living in another way is what is best for society. For the most part, just because someone does not understand or agree with something, does not mean it is wrong or bad. Different countries live in a variety of unique ways; however, that does not mean we have to agree with it

Getting to know someone else different opinions and perspectives is key in order to have an opinion on your own.

Wheatley changes her word choice from confusion to curiosity. This is to help the reader accept the “unknown”. At first she uses confusion to help readers understand that not everything has an answer, then she uses curiosity to provide a way for readers to find the answer.

If people today were more open to understanding others beliefs the world would be a much more peaceful place. Just like how the willingness to understand another is what separates a argument from a debate, this can also be true in the real world.

Many things today have been deemed essential, but have we considered that people are essential? Our unique views and beliefs throughout time have allowed s to adapt and survive. Acknowledging. Listening. Understanding one another is still what will allow us to survive. You, me; we are what is essential for all our survival.

Does what we believe begin in the micro and move out to meso and macro if it even goes that far? What shift occurs in moving to macro to meso to micro? We remember, too, that many of us have not learned about PSYCHOLOGICAL Mindset/Frame as a element of setting (because we learned about place and time).

When I hear things in this context, social norms feel like such a far fetched concept. I remember talking about houses and how they have changed. Once they were more boxed in, but now the stress is on openness. I was wondering when that changed, and whether people recognize those changes in society. Or do we just sort of go with the flow? Is anyone leading anyone? Or is it just chaos with a thin veil known as cultural normality?

Wheatley explains how no two people share the same identities. Everyone is their own unique person and this is the source for varying ideas. Wheatley explains that we experience life differently and this allows for everyone thoughts to contradict another’s thoughts and lead us to a new way of interpreting and analyzing events.

It is still crazy personally that every day when I drive home from school or go to work, I am driving past people I’ll more than likely never meet these people and they are leading the same complex lives such as mine.

It does not matter how physically similar we are. We all have different family, experiences, trauma, mindsets, and we were all raised differently. We can never accurately debate how valid someone’s response to something is because all we know is how we would respond. We never know how someone else is wired based on their past, present, and future.

That is going to happen no matter where you are in the world and that okay. But its how we treat people with different beliefs than us that is not okay.

If I met someone that had been the exact places as me, we would have hundreds of different stories to tell that the other did not have. We would not love the same places or have the same favorites. We may prefer a different trip than another. Everyone leads different lives and has different memories.

When reading this, it brought be back to 2017 when many were seeing a dress in a different perspective than others. Many saw it as a white and gold, but many also saw it as a black and blue dress. We will never see something the same as someone else will.

Bringing this essay to the young people who may or may not have relationships yet with “colleagues.” The work can happen in our classrooms too.

At work, one of my favorites things to do is watch how differently everyone works. Every single person had their individual way of prepping our food. I am not sure why, but it is fascinating to me.

I feel like people tend to hangout more with people that like the same things that they do and that tend to see things the same way. So, with that said, even though this sounds like an excellent idea on paper, I do not think that it would really work out well in reality.

I think people would be amazed at everyone else’s different explanations however that is assuming people will being willing to hear those explanations. We must first be willing to let go of our certainty and listen.

This plays off the idea that Mr. Hankins states all the time! “No matter how thin you make a pancake there is always going to be two sides.” Its crazy how even the same exact event can provoke such different emotions in different people. A speech may be easy as pie for one student and an awful, anxiety inducing one for someone else.

Sometimes people forget to think of other people’s point of view. If we put ourselves in other people’s shoes, it may resolve any misunderstandings or problems

People who are more diverse are more knowledgeable about the world and society. If someone has never explored and witnessed different ways of living, they are more prone to being stubborn and thinking their way is the only way. I will admit that I do not know a lot about the world; however, from traveling to Europe, South America, Mexico, Canada, etc, I have been able to witness different ways of living. Due to this I am a better appreciation for my life and know that ways of growing up affect individuals’ views.

Yes, sometimes “we’re not capable of figuring things out alone.” Maybe it is because we have never experienced the thing in question or maybe we have always been on the wrong side of the situation. Either way, a new perspective can make everything clearer.

Seeing from other people’s view can help solve arguments and fights. When my friends and I are upset with one another, I try looking at it from their perspectives. If someone does not realize they hurt another person’s feelings, it is important to back track and realize what they said or did to make someone hurt. In their own view they may not think it was something that should have caused harm; however, what matters is that it did cause a person to be upset.

This line embodies what one of Mr. Hankins most famous lines is, “the smartest voice in the room is the room.” Being in a class with so many smart and thoughtful kids, we can bring so much more to the table when we all listen and present different ideas.

This is so important. We need to take more time to listen then to speak.

What do you see?
What do you notice?
What do you wonder?
What do you want to know more about?

The brain filters out what it does not want to hear. I have noticed this with learning about new things. Take for example, I learned more about cars. The next day at school it will seem like everyone happened to be talking about cars.

The author speaks about how she is able to see her own views by listening to others. Through reading this piece you can clearly get an idea that you should open up your ears, heart, and mind to others. Through opening yourself up you might find something about yourself that you didn’t even know about. It reminds me of when I give my mom massages and she says, “I didn’t know I hurt there until you started massaging there.” Listening to others is the same concept. You might not know you agree or disagree with someone or something until it is brought up. This truly shows that opening yourself up to others can help you find yourself.

When I get surprised or even challenge, my initial thoughts are usually anything along the lines of “what did they just say?” But taking some time to really understand what a person is saying is more beneficial than just blocking out differing opinions. Opposing views offer insight into other’s lives that may help us better understand later.

In her experience, she is explaining how she was so used to just nodding her head because everything she was hearing from another individual was going alongside her beliefs until shewould hear something shocking. When she hears something that shocks her, it gives her an opportunity to step back and look to see if that is one of her beliefs as well and it could turn into an invisible belief.When we are having conversations with other individuals, we need to really listen intently because we could discover an invisible belief we never knew were about of us.

Honestly, just about everyone does this. This is a very fundamental aspect of learning. The more I thought about this, I realized change does result in it. Pretty cool how we unconsciously place a value on our things, beliefs and assumptions, and how that value can change so quickly.

This is something that allows my mother and I to have a good relationship. She is an extremely good parent because from many parents and adults I have observed, she is one of few that admits that she is wrong sometimes and will hear my side of things and actually apologize to me for her initial reaction. She does not just assume she is right because she is the parent and she was raised one way. She always listens to me and understands when things might need to be done differently and stray from what she knows.

While many conversations happen all day long while we are at home, at school, or at work. . .how many happen without guidance or a direction that would be purposeful and move the participants in a direction? Who invites these conversations? Who encourages the work to happen? Who is at the table? Who is not?

I would like to consider myself someone who listens to others and actually gets something out of the conversation. However, I know this is not the case for many people sadly. When some people listen to others it can make them angry or sad and they want to retaliate by saying hateful things. I feel as thought listening to others does not always bring us closer especially when it is about different points of views about a topic. I wish everyone would get over the fact that everyone is not going to agree with them and they would just listen and have a civil conversation. The world would be a much better of a place if more people did this.

Author Wheatley could not explain this any better. We, as humans, judge was too quickly and harshly which is what damages relationships between each other.

I always try to be judgement free when I walk into a conversation, and I hope whoever I talk to is doing the same.

Change brings challenge. Sometimes, we as humans feel that we have enough challenge as it is. We prioritize, and most of the time change, even in only some aspects of our lives, are usually at the bottom of our list. If it doesn’t affect us, we are less likely to change it. Most people ask, “why would I go through the hardship if I cannot directly benefit?”

Change is something in my life that challenges me. I am not a huge fan of it especially when it is a big change. I have one of these big changes coming up in my life soon, just like every senior. I have to decide what to do after high school and immerse from the grade school bubble I have been in since I was six. While I am excited for this change I am also extremely nervous and scared. This causes me to avoid talking or listening to conversations about it. I sometimes tell myself if I do not talk/hear about it I do not have to think about it or deal with it at the moment. Which is true, but it does not change the fact that it will happen in a few short months.

I have heard this fear of change be compared to jumping into a cold pool. Often we hesitate not because it will hurt, but because it is different. This fear of change is purely physical with the pool example however, we also often hesitate to change mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

People are terrible with change, this is a fact. We are afraid of it. We are so scared to leave behind a routine that we know so well. Change brings unknown which we dread. Fear of the unknown has lead to a lot… a LOT of issues, even issues as big as racism or homophobia all sprout from this overwhelming fear of the unknown.

When I got to this point in this article, I couldn’t help but to think about my next step in life. As seniors about to graduate, what will our life look like after high school? We seem comfortable where we are in life right now so we may not want to go out of our comfort zone. Change is good. Staying comfortable is also good, but what if changing and going out of our comfort zone is something we need as our next step?

If we want a better world we must stop and listen to what is wrong. Only then can we begin to understand the problem and find a way to fix it. Ignoring problems and wishing for a better world only works if you have a glass slipper and a fairy godmother.

I feel like throughout my life I have always been positioned in this place of uncertainty, always seeing both sides and being able to adapt my opinion. I guess what I have learned is not everything is exact. Everything depends on something else and everyone should be willing to see that not everything is black and white. Some things require continued thought and listening to other perspectives.

I know I am someone who hates being confused about something and try everything possible to become not confused. I am having a hard time grasping the thought that by being confused it can cause us to be creative. I feel as though being confused can lead us to doing the wrong things. I do not think the wrong things is what would be considered “creative” in this situation.

For myself at least, there can be a very real fear in beginning something new to myself or engaging someone in a realm of conversation in which I lack a great deal of knowledge. I fear that in a public setting confusion could simply be considered ignorance to the subject, and I at least can assume that ignorance will be met with unrest amongst the people that have been much more involved in the activity or topic at hand thus far. It is honestly quite relieving to hear that confusion breeds creativity.

I do not agree with this change can also be made because of conflict.

This principle was the fulcrum of my THIS project last year, where I asked that same question, and findings are interesting. There are studies that exist where people choose something that they know will be bad over something they do not know about, simply because they fear that lack of knowledge more than something negative they know about. It is a difficult challenge being called onto us, but a rewarding one.

No one should be alone through their adventure. They should be wanting people next to them in uncertain times. Willing to let others in and help them out. Not everyone wants to go through these things in their life alone, therefore listening to what others have to say may help you out in life. It might tell you a story that will help guide you in the right path. May help you realize what you want out of life. People are needing to express their beliefs, feelings, and thoughts to other people. Do you have someone you can share those things with? Do you listen to others? Are you willing to be there for someone who needs you the most? 

I think this sentence is an important part of this article because it demonstrates just one example of how people can come together. By doing something like this, you can learn so much about another person which is what opens our minds or even can surprise us.

On the second page of this article starting with “can’t understand why we would be satisfied,” and ending with “and I want you to,” the word listen is used 11 times. I may have missed one or two but regardless this is a large number for one single action. The repetition of this word emphasizes the importance of this word and the gravity behind the action itself. One must listen to learn, to grow, and to become the best version of themselves.

It is important that while opening up your heart and mind, you keep yourself in mind. You can sometimes lose yourself when you get too caught up in what everybody else is thinking and feeling. You need to listen to others, but you need to remember to listen to yourself.

That is the problem people do not want their perspective valued but rather be able to “say” what they want to say even if no one is really listening.

Throughout his text my main takeaway was that in order to hear someone out you must listen first. I think this is where we are going wrong in the world today. We are not hearing one another out and being there as a listener. We are all voicing our own opinions and they aren’t being hard because no one is willing to listen. No one is willing to sit there and not speak while someone else tells the story or something important that is needed to be heard. This is where we are running into uncertainties and problems. My mom has always told me to be a good listener and that it will get me many big places in my life. She has been right so far. Just by listening it has allowed me to decide what I want to do for my career. It has allowed me to figure things out on my own and to learn new things in this world we are living in. It also allows me to hear others out when they need to be heard and engage in conversation with them. LISTEN every once in awhile.
Do you think the world would be different if people just listened to one another?

I appreciate this statement because I think it talks about how we should all be unique and different, all expressing our own individuality, but to all love eachother as equal because the same red blood is shared by every single one of us.

This is a compelling point to complete Wheatley’s thoughts here. It is a sort of invitation that would be easily written off as too soft, too sentimental. Not possible right now. If we believe that “Love wins. Love always wins,” we might better reconcile the seat. . .the heart. . .of love.

It is the hearts of us that will be the change. The empathy. The compassion. The sentiments of one another that will change our world.