061| IS ALL CERTAINTY AGGRESSION?
Quite possibly it is.
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IH061 - Is ALL Certainty Aggression?
A few weeks ago, my wife handed me the most recent issue of Mindful Magazine and recommended that I read the cover story. It was a sorrowful story of a father losing his son to drugs and suicide. It was also a story of profound grief and learning—learning about compassion, dealing with trauma, and about self.
I immediately contacted the magazine’s author and asked him to come on the show, which you can hear next week in an episode called “Finding Our Compassion with Bryan Welch.” This is an episode full of insights into the journey of being human and observations that will give you pause about your past, present, and desired future. During our conversation, Bryan commented that “all certainty is aggression.” He explained that this view isn’t purely his, but he has been exposed to it in other teachings.
In today’s episode, I ponder whether all certainty is aggression. I consider what this might mean about me, my professional work, personal life, relationships, past, present, and future. I put forward a defense to the notion that all certainty is aggression and share how certainty is the distinct underpinning of our existence. I discuss what it means to be uncertain and why hierarchies rely on the certainty of those at the top. I make the case that certainty is aggression and discuss how certainty suppresses the voice of others and reinforces hierarchy, rank, and even privilege. I share how certainty shuts down debate and blocks opportunities to uncover better answers than the ones we have. I also share the benefits of being uncertain and seeking solutions in others
“Certainty is a function of dominance that puts others on the defensive because by being certain we are being offensive.” - Chris Colbert
This week on Insert:Human
Why we are taught to be certain, have distinct points of view, and think critically
Why we associate uncertainty with fickleness and ambivalence
How all structures and hierarchies rely on certainty from the top
How certainty is fueled by aggression and suppresses the voices of others
How certainty shuts down debate, collaboration, and compromise
Why you should learn to be uncertain, vulnerable, and express confidence in others
Resources Mentioned:
Insert:Human - For a Better Life & Better World
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