When Denise gave birth to our firstborn, we were fortunate to have a remarkable young pediatrician. We met him at a lecture at San Jose State, and he shared with we young expectant parents some excellent advice. One gem he shared was the fact that many physicians give you confident, educated advice as to what to do. However, as he reminded us, the doctor is usually expressing his opinion rather than an absolute truth. Topics may include nursing vs. bottle feeding, when to introduce solids, how long to let your baby cry, etc. He continued that the doctor's advice is hopefully worth seriously listening to, but we should keep in mind there is a difference between unequivocal proof and a strongly worded opinion.
I remember that important piece of information so many years later in my own counseling work. I will often preface my statements with, “in my opinion”. Hopefully, it’s still worth considering, but it’s rarely an absolute statement of scientifically established fact.
I believe many noisy, often angry "debates" would be softened by the person, at the very least, reminding themselves that they are expressing their strongly felt opinion. Again, it is rarely a presentation of an unequivocal scientifically established fact. In this day and age of opposite beliefs: liberal and conservative, religious and anti-religion, gun control and no gun control, immigration, drug legalization, bathrooms, etc., we should remind ourselves we are merely representing our own opinions. They may be worthy of debate, but not the disgust and extreme anger that we have allowed ourselves to be consumed by. That is, in my opinion.
I remember that important piece of information so many years later in my own counseling work. I will often preface my statements with, “in my opinion”. Hopefully, it’s still worth considering, but it’s rarely an absolute statement of scientifically established fact.
I believe many noisy, often angry "debates" would be softened by the person, at the very least, reminding themselves that they are expressing their strongly felt opinion. Again, it is rarely a presentation of an unequivocal scientifically established fact. In this day and age of opposite beliefs: liberal and conservative, religious and anti-religion, gun control and no gun control, immigration, drug legalization, bathrooms, etc., we should remind ourselves we are merely representing our own opinions. They may be worthy of debate, but not the disgust and extreme anger that we have allowed ourselves to be consumed by. That is, in my opinion.
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