The Sharp Tip of Point-of-View, The Mark of Change (205)

Points of view have sharp tips. They, being the cap of an idea. Its surface the cusp of several opinions, fine tuned into a vertex. It leaves a mark, like leaking ink at the bottom of a backpack, or the graphite smudge of a #2. We have them for a reason.

If we did not have precision thinking, we would never focus, be driven towards a goal, or make the fundamental choices we do in everyday life. Decisions are constant, left, right, up, down, forward, backward- all with pin-point accuracy. Our views being sharpened and honed.

Laser accuracy at times. Guiding us. We rely on them to be truthful, honest, and collaborative. We trust them to communicate with other parts of our brain- reasoning, problem-solving, memory, and empathy. However sometimes they betray us- our brains are machines after all and even the most sophisticated of instruments needs repair.

These human brains are pretty sophisticated- they are marvelous at keeping us alive, but they are also surprisingly good at misfiring and miscalculating. Misjudging, miscommunicating, and misinterpreting.

We do it all the time. In life, in science, in our personal day-to-day experiences.

Science helps us discover these challenges. It helps us overcome the misses we encounter. Fact is only fact until we prove it wrong. Science actually looks for the misses. It knows of our mechanical challenges, our psychological omissions, inaccuracies, and overestimation.

We rely on it to do just that. To compare and contrast data, research, findings, and conclusions. To find the delusions and illusions we fine tune into a point of view. It is constantly looking for answers. Sometimes to questions we have not figured out yet.

Scientific inquiry has changed the world and will continue to do so- it is not merely one point of view, but a combining of marks- ink and graphite- that will transform, progress, and illuminate all things undiscovered and unseen.

Viewpoints are personal. Opinions are unique, until they are not.

That is the purpose of science, to unite thinking towards a common problem. Not isolation, but participation and partnership. When individuals seek out adverse opinions, opposition, and discordant points of view- progress happens. Conversations and contradictions lead to questions, observations, and discoveries.

This is science. Overcoming the limitations of our personal bubbles. Recognizing we are all the same on this vast planet. Our illnesses, struggles, heartbreaks. They might vary in scale, circumstance, and social value (Yes, I said it, its appalling, but true) BUT science tends to see a problem free of social constraints. It wants to solve.

Now we know that this is not always the case. Science has been used for some heinous things indeed. But science is (for the most part) designed to fight disease, bring us insight into an atomic, molecular, microscopic space we know little about.

Science is the language of life- mathematics. Now this is not to say that points of view do not find their way into science. Some use it for personal gain, financial gain and yes, notoriety.

But these are not the majority. The majority of scientists are laboring away finding cures, solutions, vaccines. They are theorizing and analyzing. They are researching and collaborating. They will get us to Mars. They will find a vaccine to Covid and future pandemics. They will cure Cancer, MS, Parkinson’s.

They would not do these miraculous feats of science if they did not have a point of view.

Points of view are critical, in order for us to manipulate our surroundings, be curious, be innovative, use our ingenuity. Speak about our misgivings. Go against the grain because progress happened not in a one-directional flow of imagination- but a web of thoughts and ideas. Of visionaries and those who were thought unstable or insane. We fear what we do not understand. We accept what we can see. We trust what works.

Science works. Our instincts work. They tell us to trust- believe-listen. They show us glimpses of hope and grace. They can get clouded; they may even halt our forward momentum. Leave us in a temporary state of confusion, distraction, and uncertainty. But point-of-view is strong. However, at times we need to check the oil, grease the cogs, and work out the kinks.

These days our machine is lagging a bit, trying desperately to fix itself. To stay on target, to adjust to the backlog. But we need to slow down the pace. We need to process. We need to believe. Trust our instincts.

We need to allow science to provide some answers. Trust in the process. Listen to other opinions and collaborate with others. For we all share the same biology, we all have the same capacity for positivity, and mindfulness.

We all want is best, we all want to be better, we all want to bring positive change- it all starts with individual points-of-view and a communication of ideas and solutions. Even those we might see as evil or unfeeling have a point-of-view. They believe in what they are doing. It is a slippery slope- point-of-view- it often leads us to only see our own.

But we have to stay open to all points-of-view, in order to find our place in the momentum- its building and we all have a role to play in the progress and transformation unfolding.

We all need to be scientists and observe, listen. We need to be open to new information, new data, new insight. We need to assemble, unite, and focus our energy on positive, productive, meaningful change- because change is inevitable.