the ladder of inference

coming across this tool in some of my professional growth learning today, it occurred to me that this concept is operating right now in full force whether we realize it or not.

the potential for both caring and conflict has perhaps never been higher in our homes, neighborhoods, and cities.

because our beliefs influence how we select from the data in front of us, how we are aware of our thought process (advocacy) and getting information from others (inquiry) can lead to peaceful teamwork or go terribly wrong in seconds flat.

especially in a time when we are all trying to make sense of the same thing at the same time, i'm going to lay low on the ladder and try to stick to what i can observe, or at least slow my thought process down and put pauses in where i might otherwise be tempted to jump to conclusions.

ladders are incredibly useful and potentially dangerous.  i'm reminded of the steps that say on the actual hardware, "danger:  this is not a step" and how important it is, when on a really tall one, to have someone spotting you or holding the base from below; to get someone else's perspective, or safe places to bounce ideas off one another before taking an action we might regret might be just the tool we need for the job.

metacognition is hard work under normal circumstances, but we're stronger when we go only as far as we can go together.

or, in the wise words of Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) "walk through the valley of humility and know peace.  a greedy ego is just a steep mountain you'll find dangerous to climb.  it's also tricky, if not impossible, to come down from such heights, and anyhow, the summit is too small for community."