Early on in life I was very sure of myself. I was cocky and bold, and I never gave much consideration to whether anyone liked it or not. My confidence was assured and my willingness to express my point of view on any subject was constant and without regard.
Ironically looking back, I realize I was “misguided and misinformed”.
The problem was I did not know it, nor did I care.
It is this way with many I see around me today. Their attitudes of arrogance are only surpassed by their ignorance.
I know this sounds harsh, but I think it is warranted.
I know firsthand what it means to believe I am the measure others should live up to. I now realize and understand I could not possibly have known all I thought I knew early on.
Now I know this statement is not debatable, it is simply true.
For many of us, the need to be seen and heard causes us to move forward even when we are “misguided and misinformed”. In fact, it often coerces us into doing so even when we are uncertain and unsure about what we may be doing.
The question we should ask is, why? Why would someone step out or up when they are “misguided and uninformed”? The answer is our egos will not allow us to do otherwise.
The ego is the greatest hurdle we have in life and for many it is so powerful they will not even consider it might be a problem.
As a young man I was so sure of myself. I would do anything to achieve my end goal. This drive and self-centered focus led me far and I was able to achieve because of it.
The question is at what cost? How many relationships did I damage? How many people did I hurt as I marched my way to the proverbial top.
I do not have the answers to these questions, I just know there were casualties that could have been avoided had I taken the time to gain the knowledge and information I needed to make an informed decision.
The irony is, I look around me and I see younger men and women who act is if they are the measure. Their attitudes and demeanors are off putting, yet they do not see it at all.
And so, the cycle of the “misguided and misinformed” continues into the next generation, as those who have been there and done that are discarded and ignored because they are seen as out of touch with today’s world and its challenges.
It is interesting how the arrogance and ignorance I walked in for decades is still as prevalent now as it has ever been.
This is one of the remarkable things about life. Nothing changes, it is just repackaged and repeated by those who come after us.
I truly hope the “misguided and misinformed” in my life will at least look up and out long enough to see how the choice to live this way doesn’t give life to anyone, it just shows a lack of awareness everyone sees but them!
Psalm 86:11, “Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”
