Digesting information the right way
More than ever, we need to consider how we receive our information and the difference between opinion and fact. More than ever the number of media sources we scan and read – both mainstream and social – matters. More than ever, your discernment and research to become properly informed, rather than jump into the circus of opinion, matters. Finally, how we use social media – matters, because social media can either connect or divide us and we need connection of voices to create a momentum for change in order to create opportunity for impact. As Adam Grant writes on how to become a better critical thinker: “Be 10% more sceptical of people you agree with and 10% more charitable to people you disagree with.”
Once you feel informed, find your voice and make your voice constructive for others rather than damaging. It is far easier to project your voice by destroying and denigrating others. Avoid this temptation and show courage in using your voice as your own. Be an informed voice and don’t use your voice to express opinion dressed up as fact.
Celebrating difference
One of my strongest learnings over 25 years working in the mental health industry is how different we are. How differently we think and feel; differences in what we have been exposed to in childhood; how sensitive and vulnerable we were or weren’t in the face of that exposure; how differently we adapt and respond and carry emotion, distress, trauma; how susceptible we are to addictions; how open we are to expression; and what types of expressions we prefer vs ones we are inclined to judge; how filtered and unfiltered we are and the differences we show in courage, awareness, reflection and energy; even to how differently people will react to this article and how differently people receive and learn from reading articles on wellbeing. And finally, the differences in what we think, how we think, how we listen and process information. And it is this understanding of difference between humans that tells us what we can do and how we might find a way forward through a global environment that feels increasingly polarised.
Whether we are able to accept difference and remove judgement has nothing to do with our gender, age, upbringing, ethnicity, religion, ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’ energy, introvert vs extravert. It is simply a choice to embrace a blueprint for another way of being human in the face a technological world that has perfected the art of algorithms of division, polarisation and conflict; and a world in which proportionality has been lost as the true representation of opinion and truth has been skewed towards the number of clicks on a digital screen.
Making a decision to learn from others
There is choice here. I take up the challenge to choose to listen to voices different to my own and I encourage you to do the same. As Hugh Mackay writes, “Whether it’s climate change, artificial intelligence, addiction to social media, increasing inequality, the rise of individualism or any other perceived threat to our social health and wellbeing, we need to ponder the consequences of our own actions very carefully. This is not a time to be reckless. It is not a time to be too assertive about “me”. It’s a time for fresh commitment to the noble purpose of living more selflessly, in a spirit of greater kindness and respect towards each other”.
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About Converge
Converge is an employee wellbeing and mental health support provider serving over 1,500 businesses with our clinical network of over 2,000 mental health and wellbeing practitioners. We support many well-known businesses across Australia and New Zealand, including Bupa, Coles, Bunnings, Qantas, and Australia Post. We’ve been active in the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) industry since the 1960s and have solidified ourselves as one of Australia and New Zealand’s most trusted providers. We believe in providing businesses with mental health and wellbeing support that’s accessible, effective, and available 24/7, anytime, anywhere.
