Have you ever heard of a running marathon where 5,000 people start the race but only one finishes? According to the BBC it happened recently in England. The report says that, “Thousands of runners who took part in the Marathon of the North races have been told the course they followed was 264 meters short. Competitors … took a wrong turn in the Sunderland events because marshals were standing in the wrong positions. Only the winner of the full marathon completed the full distance. Only the lead athlete followed the correct route through the Sheepfold area near the Stadium of Light. Unfortunately, the second and third placed runners were not within line of sight of the leader and lead bikes and vehicle. This resulted in all those who followed taking an incorrect route through this section." This story illustrates just how easy it is to get off course.
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Thursday, October 13, 2016
The Respect / Contempt Continuum
Author Gary Thomas says, “Contempt is conceived with expectations. Respect is conceived with expressions of gratitude.” Our attitudes about everyone fall within the respect / contempt continuum. On one extreme there are those we revere and on the other there are those we distain. To better understand respect it is best to consider what contempt is all about and to consider the frequency we may be engaging in it.
Author Gary Thomas says, “Contempt is conceived with expectations. Respect is conceived with expressions of gratitude.” Our attitudes about everyone fall within the respect / contempt continuum. On one extreme there are those we revere and on the other there are those we distain. To better understand respect it is best to consider what contempt is all about and to consider the frequency we may be engaging in it.
Thursday, October 6, 2016
The Contempt Cocktail
Contempt focuses on weakness. To make a contempt cocktail go to the cupboard and take one part disgust and one part anger and mix them together. Disgust and anger are at the center of every contemptuous thought. How much of a problem do think contempt is in your relationships? Now, before you conclude that we never treat others with contempt, look with me at some thoughts, feelings, and actions, akin to contempt, that were eye opening when I considered them:
Contempt focuses on weakness. To make a contempt cocktail go to the cupboard and take one part disgust and one part anger and mix them together. Disgust and anger are at the center of every contemptuous thought. How much of a problem do think contempt is in your relationships? Now, before you conclude that we never treat others with contempt, look with me at some thoughts, feelings, and actions, akin to contempt, that were eye opening when I considered them:
- Passing judgment without all the facts
- Comparing ourselves to others
- Focusing on someone’s failings or defects
- Pointing out a persons lack of status
- Devaluing, or creating distance with another
- Speaking with sarcasm or being openly hostile
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