See This in Yourself First

One of the most often asked questions I receive during podcast interviews is: “What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?”

This is actually one of the easiest questions for me to answer.

To “younger Burg” I’d relate — with an exclamation point in my voice — one of my all-time favorite sayings…

Key Point: “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure...that just ain’t so.”

I don’t know who originally said that. Mark Twain is often credited. While he said something somewhat similar in one of his books, he didn’t quite say that.

Regardless, in my opinion, it’s brilliant...and it’s something I wish I’d known years ago when I thought I knew it all.

What a difference-maker that would have been! (Then again, at that time I probably wouldn’t have listened.)

At 20, I was absolutely, positively, and without question certain that I knew how the world worked, what made people tick, how they thought...and most importantly, why I was right and they were wrong.

It all came down to what I thought…no, what I *knew.* And, what I *knew* that I *knew.*

Except that it turned out I didn’t. Not even close. I ended up being so very wrong about so many things.

Important: As human beings, we make decisions and judgments based on very, very limited information.

We continue to do this long after we are 20 years old. I did. I’m sure I still do.

Why: Sometimes, what we know that “just ain’t so” simply fits the belief system in which we grew up. Other times, it’s the beliefs and words of our friends, teachers, peer group, political party, or even those things our favorite media personalities believe. And sometimes, it’s emotional self-protection.

Of course, there are times when what we know for sure is indeed true. But I suspect that’s far less often than we’d like to believe.

The good news is that the moment we become aware of this phenomenon of human nature, we can take steps to correct it.

One of today’s top leadership authorities posted…

Powerful: “Instead of believing everything you think, think about what you really believe.” —Jesse Lyn Stoner

Terrific advice!

Seems as though we see the “I believe it because I think it” syndrome displayed constantly these days — on television, social media, and pretty much wherever people meet in person. And from all the various points of view, right?

Not only would I like to see more respectful and civil communication between those with opposing viewpoints...I’d like to see us questioning our *own* beliefs just to confirm that what we absolutely know for sure really IS so.

Today’s Exercise: Think of some of the major and minor beliefs you hold to be absolutely, positively true...and question them. Really, really question them. Indeed, they might *be* true. Or… :-)