Do you know what I fear? Fears drive our beliefs. We fear chaos and we long for meaning. However, many of us are afraid to talk - afraid of being ostracized or ridiculed for our thoughts or beliefs.
Fear might be the most powerful—and most common—thing we share. Don’t minimize it.
Things get even more distorted when our relationships exist only through social media or email. There’s no replacement for face-to-face conversations. The silence and one-sided nature of online communication can warp our perception of others. We start to question who people really are, which breeds suspicion—and opens the door to misinformation.
Maybe with self examination you realize that you aren't always as open and welcoming to all as you thought. Here is an example of a survey to allow you to try focused self examination:
The Blame Intensity Inventory (rate each one as extremely likely (#1) to not very likely (#7) and anything in between.
1. You learn about a Wall Street investor who lied to many people in order to steal their money. He used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle. What is the likelihood that you would hope he spends many miserable years behind bars? ______
2. You read a newspaper article about an 18-year-old who committed an armed robbery with a handgun. He has been in trouble with the law many times. What is the likelihood that you would feel anger and disgust toward him? ___
3 A terrorist group bombs LA. Several innocent people are killed.
What is the likelihood that you would think the terrorists should be completely destroyed?___
4.You see a story about a woman who has been arrested for physically abusing her children. She lost her temper and punched her young son, breaking his nose. Neighbors say that they often hear her yelling unkind things at her children.
What is the likelihood that you would feel that she is despicable and deserves to suffer based on her horrible behavior? ___
GET THE IDEA? THIS IS MUCH HARDER THAN YOU MAY IMAGINE - IT ISN'T YES OR NO!