“The ability to observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence.”
- Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895 – 1986), Indian philosopher and speaker
It’s also really flippin’ difficult, especially the more laps around the track we have under our wheels.
Some people also say it’s a “guy thing,” that men are wired to fix, not listen and empathize. Regardless of gender, if we’ve “seen this movie before,” it can be far too easy to presume we know how the story ends. As often as not, we don’t.
When we begin a new engagement in a field in which we have extensive experience, we’re called to exercise what Krishnamurti calls the highest form of intelligence. I’d never heard of him until I searched for a quote on this topic, and I don’t know if I agree with anything else he ever said or did.
That said, his “take” is worth considering, and its difficulty will make it even more rewarding the closer we get to executing the discipline.
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