Let’s talk for a moment about something very simple in our everyday lives but so easy to ignore. That is what we believe things mean. The truth is that nothing means anything except what we assign to it. We make a mistake when we are convinced that a phrase or graphic means the same to others as it does to us. A cross might bring up different feelings in a devout Christian than in a Jewish person. Crossing your ankle over your knee is an insult to a Japanese person but has no significance to Americans. Saying “No” in India or China is extremely offensive. They avoid the word completely using instead different words to convey a negative response, such as “We’ll see.”
When we understand this we can consciously choose what meanings we are willing to accept and which ones are slated for deletion. We no longer have to abide by the meanings ascribed by the tribe, such as religious, community, social or political. We are free to discard meanings assigned by others and come up with our own. Even better, to attach no meaning to a behavior or symbol is an option. It is freeing and it is true. It is our choice.
