Knowledge is Only for One Who Seeks It

People have a tendency, a liking to share what they know. It feels nice, gratifying actually.

The methods vary from person to person. Some are emphatic, some are matter-of-fact, some do it to show-off, some do it with under-confidence, some do it with kindness, some with the stick. No matter what the style, sharing of one’s knowledge is a natural tendency of humans. It helps in overall evolution of the human race. It in an integral part of the human ecosystem.

Information is the basis for knowledge. Information is a fact or situation.

Knowledge is distilled from information. It evolves after the person processes the information with his or her perspective and makes conclusions. The process of converting information to knowledge is also influenced by others. But the final take is always of the person who uses the information.  Thus, a nuclear scientist uses information on nuclear reactions to create the knowledge useful to make either a power plant or an atom bomb. It’s a question of perspective and intent.

Information thus processed to knowledge can do many things to people – make them arrogant, humble, silent, talkative, able to forget and forgive, vindictive, all those contrasting things.

Our world today is greatly driven by information. It’s a flood, a deluge, rather. It’s too much for a person to handle. Yet the addiction for more information is strong. More the supply, greater the demand.

Along with information, gets passed knowledge created by people with their own perspective and intent. In the flood which rushes in, it is difficult for people to discern what is information and what is opinion. People end up taking in knowledge of others unwittingly. A large contribution, of course, is from social media. Other’s opinions are taken as facts and these borrowed opinions influence one’s thinking.

However, what I’m trying to say here is that the knowledge that one acquires is exclusively his or her choice. While there is access to vast stores of information and knowledge on the Internet, people only take what they are attracted to. A person is drawn to that he or she wishes to see. No amount of coaxing, forcing, presenting, requesting makes someone take in knowledge he or she did not seek out.

That is the really funny thing about knowledge. It can’t be pushed down someone throat. One only picks up that knowledge which he or she is seeking.

The crux of the matter, while there are enough messages floating on the positive side of things, the general tendency is to take in huge amounts of negative sentiments. Its futile to expect people to lap up what they do not intend to. This is the greatest challenge to positivism. Even if one person is trying to spread positive thoughts, it really depends on the whole lot of others whether the thought is really carried forward.

It’s necessary that each person does his or her bit to spread positivism. Doing it without expectations is the best that one can do. A good thought will find its way to one who needs it and one who seeks good thoughts will come up the same. It’s beautiful the way the world works with everyone doing their part in this huge cosmic design.

The Meaningless – “Should Be” Expectation

I often hear people saying:

• this is the way he or she should behave.
• this is the way things should be.
• this is the way something should have happened.

People want and expect things to happen a certain way. They want people to behave in a particular manner. For example, a manager expects his sub-ordinate to be innovative, responsible, communicative and have all those “ideal” characteristics (which most likely the manager himself or herself does not possess at all 😊). Citizens expect the Government to be corruption free, quality conscious & service oriented. However, the same citizens wouldn’t do their small part of putting garbage away in the right places (☹). People expect every effort of theirs, every little work to bring in successful results. People expect things to go just as they planned it to be. Everything or everyone “should be” a particular way.

This “Should be” expectation, as I have titled seems to me utterly meaningless in most cases.

Why should things be the way one expects? Things will be the way they are; and the way they ought to be. People will behave as per their nature, their character and not as per someone’s expectations.

Anyone who has met the expectations of a situation or of another person can quite easily realize the sacrifices one has to make to meet someone else’s expectations. Of several hundreds of people, there are but a handful who think beyond themselves and adapt to meet expectations – be it professional, social or personal. These people realize the meaninglessness of the “Should be” expectation. They know the effort required to go beyond one’s limitations and meet external expectations. Be it managers, spouses, family members, citizens, the “Should be” expectation would make sense only if it is practiced first.

But then it’s only natural to have expectations. It takes a good deal of practiced self-control to avoid having expectations or having only expectations which are reasonable. With expectations being natural to human nature, the question is then on how to manage them; how to get the expectations met and how to react when expectations aren’t met.

As far as situations as considered, they are mostly out of one’s complete control. There are too many variables to be in complete control. So, it’s best to be adaptable to situations as they come up. If one has an mindset open for change, if one is prepared for the worst and is welcome to working against challenges, the “should be” expectation for situations is quite easily managed.

When it comes to people, a few steps which help get expectations met would be as below:

1. Set the expectations clearly
2. Set the counter expectations (what needs to be done by oneself when expecting something from others)
3. Set the external requirements to meet the expectations and variables which would cause deviations
4. Walk the path – show that what’s expected is possible and has been done
5. Be ready for a reasonable number of times for failure
6. Patience

Though easier said than done, this formula can help get others to do what “Should be” done by them. With this background established, the “Should be” would not be meaningless anymore and can be achieved. It does work for me (not all the time), as it helps me ensure that what should happen can. This method also does make sure I am prepared for the condition that my “Should be’s” aren’t met.

Marriage

I wrote this poem for the occasion of my cousin’s recent wedding. It consists of alternate stanzas of Internet humor (written as a rhyme) and some learning.

 

You are getting married and you,

Are no more going to be,

The person who has been you.

What you could be and what not,

Let this poet now tell you.

 

I’ve heard of the couple who returned from the shop,

He asked for tea as he was ready very tired.

His wife gave him tea which was not too warm,

So he put his credit card into it as it was all fired.

 

To shop can be a great pleasure,

If it’s done for the other and in right measure.

Don’t go by the man whose card was overused.

Every moment spent together can be a great treasure.

 

There was a man who came all drunk,

And to avoid talk said a presentation he would make.

His wife said calmly, that’s fine dear,

But better leave the briefcase and your laptop please take.

 

Some find it hard to their feelings shout,

At home they don’t do what they do out.

A great couple can express to each other,

Their true self without getting all wrought.

 

One wife told her husband, I’m feeling heavy and fat,

Say something nice, make me feel bright.

Don’t worry dear, you’ve got most beautiful eyes,

They show things in true light.

 

To be oneself and accept what’s true,

To tell it as it is but not make the other feel blue,

It’s difficult to do but best done right,

For a lasting twosome, that’s the glue.

 

This father put his thumb print on the son’s report,

The son asked why a thumb instead of signing.

My dear son, with your grades, your teacher shouldn’t know,

That in an educated family you are living.

 

It’s good to take children as they are,

Rather than make them from their true self far.

Let them grow with the right values in place,

With themselves and not with the world they should spar.

 

A husband was asked the day by his wife,

He went crazy and scared thinking what the occasion was.

Birthday, anniversary of her or parents it was not,

His son said the calendar was torn and she was at a loss.

 

It’s not always expectations from the other,

That should keep a couple together.

When both help each other go through the chores of life,

From their faults they get a breather.

 

There is more to be said of what marriage can be,

But for now let suffice it be,

This bond is for both to help each other and grow,

And the wonders of life to together see.

 

Marriage is not what people say it is,

Say never that you wanted things be not like this,

It’s what you make out of it that it will actually be,

It’s takes both to join, understand and work to be made bliss.

 

You are getting married and you,

Are no more going to be,

The person who has been you.

I’ve told what you could be and what not,

Hope it will be useful to you.