SPECIAL ISSUE #26
MIND GAMES AND MENTAL MUSCLE ACHES
It may be a kind of play on words or even a mind game, but more than 30 years ago I was already being ticked off and even attacked for claiming that there is no such thing as objectivity - and I still believe that to be the case.
„After all, the ultimate goal of all research is not objectivity, but truth.“ — Helene Deutsch
How can human beings possibly be objective? We all have different thoughts, experiences, expectations, emotions, and agendas, and have led very different lives which lead to different mindsets and points of view.
I believe that is a part of life and that is ok. In essence, we all have our own stories.
It’s a bit like asking five different whiteness who saw the same accident or crime. You will most likely get at least 6-7 different versions from these five people. It’s pretty much the same when we tell people something. Unless we ask how they have perceived and understood what was said we do not know what has been received and how they would tell someone else the same thing in very different words - a lot like Chinese whispers. So it is back along the lines of ‘having understanding comes from understanding’ - simple (albeit I did sort of contradict this in my letter about Understanding).
So what I am trying to say - with probably too many words - is that especially in the past two and a half years until this day the media (that was never objective to begin with) has been preaching the same hideous narrative without even illuminating another point of view properly. An absolute declaration of bankruptcy by the media. I believe that we need the opportunity and the means to adapt and change our minds when arguments are good and we feel we can make informed choices.
When I hear the claim that we have objective reporting, I don’t know if I should laugh or cry (or scream - I do get emotional at times…). Reports are written or composed by human beings and therefore they are not objective. We may be able to follow our own personal moral compass but it is very difficult, if not impossible to not include a personal opinion. This seems to have been beaten, bribed, or blackmailed out of the MSM.
I have not only lost all respect but also trust in our media. A few media outlets are slowly starting to become a bit more critical (let's see how long) but true and genuine journalism (even if it can never be completely objective) seems to be dead or at least in a coma (and yes, there may be a few exceptions).
In summary: we are all human and I don't find it tragic that true objectivity (at least as I define it) does not exist.
„I think perfect objectivity is an unrealistic goal; fairness, however, is not“ — Michael Pollan
But it is crucial that many voices are heard to give people the opportunity to form their own opinion and make those informed choices.
Even today, despite all the censorship and attempts to suppress information, it is easy to get a bigger picture but unfortunately, the majority seem unwilling to do so and only consume the fast food of the media (easy to get, cheap but without substance and not very nutritious). Becoming active yourself could cause serious mental muscle aches!
„Complete objectivity is not an option. We are all subjective about the way we respond to 'what is,' whether it's the people we encounter, the circumstances in our lives, or ourselves. What we can do is reduce our subjectivity - what I call 'I see, therefore it is.'“ — Elizabeth Thornton
🎶My Song of the Day
Is one that I believe goes well with today’s letter!
For more good music, go to this Spotify playlist where you can find all the songs from the Change & Evolve Letters!
📚My Poem of the Day
Is a short one by Langston Hughes (1901-1967). Dream big!
Dreams
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
👀Impressions
The amazing sky on our way home when my son picked me up at the airport in Munich…
If you would like to connect with me, find out more about the Enneagram and yourself, and how it can transform you and your life, I would be happy to take the time for a speed coaching call that you can reserve right here go to my website or simply hit reply and get in touch with me directly.
Wishing you a great day wherever you are and as always I very much look forward to your comments.
Yours
Tanja 🤗
I suppose that objectivity always starts from whose objective is being considered. I have always quoted Pat Murray who spoke on leadership many years ago and he quoted a professor of communication from UCLA. The quote was "the result of all communication ---is misunderstanding". This seems true in our daily lives as well as more generally. Thank you for your thoughts and work.