Be Careful
I used to to do this one very adamnantly, and even though it is a philosophy good to practice for your own self growth, you can lose friends over trying to beat it into their brain.
Comments:
Danadanadana This sucks, but I can handle it.
You can lose friends
trying to beat ANYTHING into their brain. Obviously.
But I agree with your main point. Acting superior to other people is NOT leadership.
I became interested in this general topic over 10 years ago when I met (again) an old high school friend who led by example. She was not judgemental or condescending about other people’s choices. Rather she said, Go ahead and make your own choices, but I prefer to do this (and if you want to know why, ask me).
And that was the first personal “environmentalist encounter” I’d had where I didn’t feel like someone was trying to cram something down my throat. Gave me much more to think about than all those other loudmouths had.
it's a difficult task
to have a good influence on people, if that is what you want to do (i guess you want to change/save the world, just like i do…). convincing ‘straight on’ just doesn’t work. missionaries have a difficult time. and so it should be. people need to think by themselves.
i have been a vegetarian for eight years (a silent, well-behaved one…), and i threw the tv out six years ago (yes, i have kids, two of them, eleven and three.) and in the beginning i felt like a missionary, i wanted to
tell people how wonderful this was. but as soon as i brought either of the two subjetcs up, people would immediately start defending themselves, “i hardly EVER watch tv, i don’t eat that much meat”... that wasn’t my point! i didn’t want to make people feel bad, or for them to defend themselves!
this is becoming a very long entry… (maybe if watched tv it would be shorter… :)
ok, anyway: don’t preach, people will learn from watching you or listening to you, without preaching.
i wish people would just be more conscious of what they do, and be true to their own ideas. if people would just think. and realise they have options. all the time.
and DDD, seeking your balance, if you read this, non-judgemental people are the best. i guess i am trying to say what you already said, but in soooo many more words…
and am i not as well seeking balance? you bet. have you found it?
i have attached a picture of a tool me and a friend found in the house where my mother was born, in northern finland. does anyone know what it might be?...
Danadanadana This sucks, but I can handle it.
OOOH! A mystery!
Well I for one, have no idea. But I’ll ask around.
Is anyone out there a tool geek?
P.S. Am still seeking, haven’t found it. Balance is elusive. And I am rather clumsy, hehe!
yes!
It’s amazing isn’t it, how quickly people will think you are judging them because of your own choices. I have never had tv, not out of my own choice but because my parents didn’t want one and I often have conversations that go like this:
Other person: Did you watch … last night?
Me: No, I don’t have a tv.
Other person: Oh really? Well, I really don’t watch that much tv either…
I really don’t mind how much television people watch, but they obviously feel guilty about it and think I’m going to consider them an inferior sort of person or something.
Interesting that you seem to have had exactly the same experience yourself.
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