Back to the Basics

Let’s start at the beginning. Let’s define the word understand.

un-der-stand: verb 1. To perceive and comprehend the nature and significance of.  2. To know thoroughly through close contact with or long experience of. 3. a.  To grasp what is intended or expressed by another. b. to comprehend the meaning of. 4. To know and be tolerant or sympathetic toward. 5. To learn indirectly, as by hearsay. 6. To conclude: infer. 7. To accept as an agreed fact. -vi. 1.To have understanding, knowledge, or comprehension.  2. To learn indirectly or at second-hand. *

*Excerpt directly from Thumb-Indexed Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary; The Riverside Publishing Company, 1984, 1988, 1994

This was a really interesting exploration for me. Looking at the different meanings of the word understand helped me to, well, understand. It seemed to further clarify the areas I am hoping to grow in.

Let’s look at 6. To conclude, infer. Well, this is where I feel I often go, concluding and inferring throughout the world. Many times, I then learn that in fact the situation or story or facts are much different than I had assumed or inferred. This is the crux of my one word journey.

Let’s consider the 3. a.  To grasp what is intended or expressed by another. -This is what I am hoping to learn to more naturally go to as my “jump off point”. I envision myself clearing my mind of any preconceived notions, and just taking in what is before me. Not judging, or guessing, or filling in the blanks, or assuming, or elaborating in my head. Just being in the moment, with what is before me. I imagine listening with an open mind, waiting for the details to be expressed and expanded upon by the person or situation before me. Oh, there are certainly times that I can see that I do this. What I am interested in is having this be my main “jumping off point”.

Let’s look at 7. To accept as an agreed fact. This is a nice middle ground, allowing for communication to be a two way flowing street. One party expresses while the other listens openly.  Then, there is an implicit mutual understanding  about what was shared.

This feels like I have gone off on a intellectual tangent, which is far from my desire. I guess beginning with an excerpt from the dictionary might send one in this direction.  Bottom line, seeing the various meanings of the word understand spotlighted the shades of gray for me. Going forward, I will be looking into more real life applications and learning moments in my own life.

Until next time,

Robin

My Journey Begins

I first discovered ONEWORD365 when I was searching the web for a 365 New Words a Year Page-a-Day Calendar.  I had received the 365 New Words a Year Page- a -Day Calendar 2014 for Christmas.  I had thought a fun writing project would be to write one sentence for each word into a story, working hard to connect such unique and unfamiliar words.  Unfortunately, I had thrown away the first word really without even looking at it, as I settled my calendar into work on January 2nd.  I went on-line searching for the first word of this particular calendar. Instead, I found this journey and community.  Funny thing is, the focus here is one word, and I discovered this whole amazing community by searching for one word. 

Choosing my word wasn’t really a choice.  The word rather quickly worked its way to the front of my brain.  Understanding.  Then, I honed the word further to the verb of this word: understand. This felt more in line with my journey; action oriented.

I have been working to be more understanding for a very long time.  But, as many things in our lives, focus, attention, and intention waxes and wanes, as other priorities come in and out of and focus. My desire to be more understanding, to understand, is something that I am and have been very interested in.  I have put some tools in place to help me stay focused on this.  For example, at my office, taped to the bottom of my computer monitor, bolded in 48-point font is the following phrase:  “Ask don’t Assume”.  This serves as a reminder to come at things from an open mind, an inquisitive and explorative stance.  I find myself coming at things with a frame of reference of having an idea of what happened or what the situation is and going from there. This is not where I want to be.  I want to have my reflex to be to ask, to seek information and knowledge, rather than assuming something else.  I have made some gains in my mission, but certainly have much more room for growth with this.  ONEWORD365 seems like just the opportunity to continue my growth and journey with this in a more focused and intentional way.

 So, I am making a commitment to understand, to understand individuals, their experiences, and their perspectives.  This journey will take a lot of effort, a lot of focus, a lot of opening my mind, a lot of listening more and talking less.  I will blog weekly on my journey.  Writing for me has always been a way to more deeply explore and give meaning to my experiences and the world around me.  So, here, I begin my ONEWORD365 journey to understand. 

Until next time,

 

Robin.