Creative Thinking: Easier said than done

John Ruskin, a leading English art critic and thinker of the Victorian era, wrote: “What we think or whatever we know or what we believe is — in the end — of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do.” An Italian proverb (literally translated, word by word) affirms, “Between saying and doing lies the sea.” They both stress the importance of “action” Have you ever wondered about how consistent “you” are in applying what you consider to be your firm ideas and beliefs? What do you actually do about them?
Most human beings tend to consider what they “think” to be of paramount importance. They like to express their opinions and usually try to convince others to comply. Sometimes they even want to impose them and are disappointed when they don’t find too many followers. Look at the modern issues that are daily presented, discussed and talked about on the news, in gatherings, meetings, even parties where everyone seems to “know it all”. The modern world has created a society of “experts”. Do you ever meet anyone who says: “I don’t know?” Hardly. Therefore, let’s say that people have strong opinions, they have firm beliefs and are convinced to be coherent and consistent. But… are they?
You surely believe that you are taking good care of your finances. You regularly check your bank account, you know what’s happening on the financial market, you believe you make smart choices. Do you keep this in mind also while purchasing “stuff”? Don’t you sometimes buy items that you cannot afford or, on the contrary, you tend to be too parsimonious and deprive your family of something they desire and deserve?
You say that it’s important to follow one’s children and be close to them. Reflect upon your usual behavior and find out if you honestly take the time, every evening, to spend an hour with them, to ask about their day, about what they did in school, if anything interesting happened they would like to share. Check if you really care when your wife tells you what happened while she was shopping, or complains about a broken appliance or a rude neighbor. And you, lady, are you willing to listen with genuine interest and a supportive attitude when your husband expresses dissatisfaction or annoyance about a state of affairs or an event that took place at work?
Your ideas about the perfect family are clear: everybody fulfills his or her role according to certain rules. The husband says that he is interested in his wife’s and in his children’s problems, but… to what extent? How does he show it? He keeps repeating that the whole family should cooperate but… Isn’t he secretly convinced that, being the head of the household, he is the one in charge of “all” decisions? Besides, he works all day so he doesn’t want to be bothered with gossip and complaints when he comes home from work.
His wife doesn’t behave too differently, though. She may expect too much attention and pampering and may forget that he, too, needs to be listened to and felt sorry for, whenever it is the case. She loves her husband and appreciates the fact that he works hard for their family. She waits for him when he comes home and intends to welcome him with a smile, a neat house, a delicious dinner, wearing nice clothes. But… how often does she actually do this? Doesn’t she justify the lack of the above by saying that she, “too”, has been working all day, that “also” she is tired … So many evenings are spoiled by petty talk, bickering, boredom, indifference, even harsh words.
Why? People have good intentions, have sound ideas, know the right things to do, they have healthy beliefs, yet they are unable to put them into practice, to carry out their actions the way they know they should. If you had the choice between reading the label on a bottle of your favorite drink and drinking it, what would you choose? Idle question? Certainly. The same applies to your belief that having good principles is enough, without actually putting them into practice. You read the label, but you don’t experience the taste. You think right, but you do not act accordingly.

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