White paper void of the mind.

“Let’s suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper void of all characters, without any ideas. How comes it to be furnished? ... To this I answer in one word, from EXPERIENCE.” This being an exert from Pinker’s “The Blank Slate” is complimentary with a metaphor first introduced by John Locke and ventures into the idea of nurture versus nature. I chose these few lines because I think they are unbelievably insightful into how human nature works and beyond relatable. 

These words draw particular attention from me because they speak such truth about what I have come to learn from the world thus far in my lifetime. The very reason for why variance exists within the human race and why similarity is present within families, romantic relationships, and friendships is by the differentiated experience in each individual’s life. I am fascinated by how personality and individuality seem to erupt at different points in a person’s life and how extremely contrasting personality types can be. A book written by Florence Littauer called “Personality Plus” describes, in detail, the four main personality types and a theoretical approach to each describing the etiology and birth of that type in an individual’s life. The very idea of the mind being an “open book” or “blank slate” can be rooted back to every conflict that has ever taken place in the history of mankind. If everyone had experienced the exact same things in the exact same perspectives at the same times, there would be no misunderstanding or difference in perception to ignite conflict. Experience truly is everything.

I value this phrase because I try to take in everything that I can and understand where the people around me are coming from when approaching every conflict in life. It is valuable because if you don’t know what that other person is feeling or what experiences they have had, it is impossible for the conflict to truly be resolved. The source of this value in my life is from my family. My mother does an excellent job of taking time to see the entire picture before deciding or saying anything. My father, on the other hand, is quite the opposite and jumps quickly to judge and make a decision. Both of their opposing qualities helped me to value it because I can see its effectiveness and how it can be lacking while in my household everyday.

I care about the idea of keeping an open mind and that understanding that experience is the one barrier that will always keep a distance between two people, because it can be applied to everything in life. When you truly believe and respect that no one can see your opinion exactly like you do, ever, it is freeing and finally peace can be had.