What are the reasons for your beliefs? Is it religion, politics, family, society or business? Is it tied to your sense of salvation or meaning in this life?
We hold an assumption that humans behave rationally and make logical choices. We pride ourselves in being logical over emotional, but we aren’t. According to Myers Briggs personality tests, 60 percent of Americans are more “feeling” versus the 40 percent who are “thinking.” This isn’t a bad thing; it is fair to describe “feeling” people as emotional beings that are apt to place harmony and cooperation as a must. Compare that to “thinking” individuals that focus on rationality, prioritizing logic over emotion; tending to hide feelings and seeing efficiency as more important than cooperation. We may “think” we are logical but in reality, for many of us, it would be hard to limit our imagination to only things that can be deductively proven.
We are endlessly complicated and interesting creatures full of illogical contradictions. I struggle to believe that I can be rational and logical while realizing I am a finite being. I must choose what to believe, plus have faith in the principles that govern my mind, body and soul, while also realizing I could be wrong. There cannot exist an infallible human expert. Yet I’m not ready to just say that there is no truth; so I take a stand and claim that for me, right now. This is my truth—yet I try to dabble in the paradox of, “This is true, and I am passionate about it.” I must also realize that I can only hold loosely, as I could be wrong.
Find part two of What is something you believe in? in the October issue of Woodbury Magazine.
Margaret Wachholz is the campus marketing director at Woodbury Senior Living. In her column, she shares observations and wisdom about aging and senior living in our community. woodburyseniorliving.com
