The idea of 21st
century entitlement was interesting; the fact that there are specific ideals set
forth and they are cohesive is helpful.
The idea of enlightenment in the 21st century is a large
undertaking. Just when it seems like we
have come a long way we find out we still have a long journey ahead. Taylor (2010) talked about inventing and adapting
to the world today, but what I feel needs to happen is we need to recognize and
change the world before us.
When Taylor (2010)
said, “to live differently we have to think differently” he meant we needed to
break away from the mold and think for ourselves. He gave examples of how in the past science
proved that some religious beliefs were not accurate, such as the sun revolving
around the earth. These types of
theories are just the ones that should be questioned. Sometimes breaking away from the norms is
exactly what is needed.
The idea that the
familiar is right and true and that whatever is strange is wrong and false
(Taylor, 2010), is what drives us to question societal norms. Not that long ago the idea of gay marriage
was not a widely accepted notion, now there are laws in a growing amount of
states that both allow and recognize it.
If we had not questioned the norms of society then this achievement
would never have happened.
These same
principles are what drive us to be empathetic, to accept things that we may not
agree with or understand. The world
today lacks empathy in general, there are too many people who are attacking
others simply because they do not agree with or understand their ideals. This starts at a young age; I see it at my children’s
school, the playground is full of kids judging other kids based on the beliefs
of their parents. If empathy isn’t
taught at a young age then it is difficult to possess as an adult. This lack of empathy shows in the
workplace.
Instead of focusing
on what is different and wrong with people in the world maybe we should focus
on what we have in common and how to strengthen that. In life as in business, it is important to find
a common ground with others it only strengthens relationships. The more empathy one has the more open to
change they can be. They can understand
why the change needs to happen and are more open and willing to go along with
it.
The main idea that
our society has been overcome by the ideas that what they have always known is
the end all truth, and that anything strange or different is to be feared and
not accepted. This thought pattern could
make accepting change difficult, in both personal and professional lives. Open-mindedness is the key to any change,
without it there is only resistance. Empathy
is also a key factor in the implementation and acceptance of change, which it
seems to be lacking right now.
Taylor, M. (2010). RSA ANIMATE: 21st Century
Enlightenment. Retrieved August 14, 2016,
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC7ANGMy0yo
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