As a teacher, I’m not interested in getting the right answer from my students, just an answer.
Why?
Because giving the right answer feels intimidating.
Students don’t want to look stupid, so they prefer to stay quiet.
But how they answer my questions reveal what their understanding of the subject is, and I use that as a basis to explain the subject. I build on what they understood correctly, and clarify what they haven’t.
If I ignore their understanding and continue my lessons without taking their misunderstandings into consideration, there will be a gap between what they know and what I’m teaching them. They will struggle to make sense of what I’m saying since it doesn’t fit into their own understanding.
In most cases, however, the students say they don’t know what the right answer is, then immediately give it!
That’s because they weren’t sure whether their understanding of the subject is correct or not.
We have the same situation when it comes to personal growth.
We look for answers to our questions and solutions to our problems, without realizing that – in many cases – we already know the answer we’re looking for and possess the solution we desperately seek.
Except, we don’t realize that we do.
Because we’re not experts, or not popular, or not successful.
We overlook our own insights and rely on other people’s advice.
But the reason why we resist following other people’s advice is that – deep down – we disagree with it. Or, at least, feel that our own opinions deserve some recognition, even when we don’t acknowledge them consciously.
I’m not saying that your answers will always be correct, but it’s a great place to start and build on.
Before you look for the next book or blog that’ll change your life, ask yourself: “What do I think of this? How will I solve this problem? What do I already know about this issue? What do I think will work in this situation?”
I’m sure you’ll be impressed by your own advice. 😉
2 replies on “The Countdown – Day 11: What Do YOU Think?”
“What do I already know about this issue? What do I think will work in this situation?”
Asking these questions will save a lot of money on self-help books! It also primers you to take action and start experimenting with something new. Which in many, many cases, can be so much more rewarding than trying to follow someone else’s advice.
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Mindful Echoes from 2010 =-.
Melissa, thanks for dropping by. 🙂
I suspect it’s because many self-help writers want to increase dependency on their content that they portray personal growth as a mystery, and they are able to offer the “unknown” and “secret” strategies to a better life.
As a wise man (whose name happens to rhyme with Haider Al-Mosawi) once said: “What a bunch of morons.”