Hypocrisy in the Headline

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines hypocrisy as "a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not." Known as a strong reproof, hypocrisy (and its partner name calling form; hypocrite) is something that no one likes to be known by yet it is something that stings us all. For we know deep down, that there is truth in such an accusation.

So why "Hypocrisy in the Headline?"Two weeks ago a wrote the post "Talk vs. Teach." In it, I discussed the difference between talking at the student and truly teaching. What is such a fascinating concept is that in the very blog that I wrote just two weeks ago, I "talked" rather than taught.

One may ask, "how do we move past the blogs and articles that claim to teach and change? How can we communicate ideas without talking at an individual, especially in such a platform as reading material?"

I believe the answer is simple; question.  Questions are a powerful, provoking source that drives a student to ponder. How would this change the way that articles are written? Let me do all I can to avoid hypocrisy in this article by suggesting so questions worth considering.

1. Have you ever learned something without questioning that "something" before accepting it?

2. Have you ever deeply and truly changed something about yourself or within yourself because of that "something" you learned, without first questioning how it would apply in your personal life?

3. What can you do in your own life to avoid lecturing or "talking" and begin to truly "teach" through questions?

4. What challenges do you foresee in such an endeavor as this one?

5. Will you commit to put this principle into practice? Namely, that you will provoke learning through questioning the student rather than simply offering information to him or her (regardless of the platform of communication).

I submit that those of you who have taken these questions to heart, and those of you who have accepted the invitation to commit to this style of communicating have gained more from this article and are more likely to change from it, than from reading an article that simply explains this principle.

Now, go and do.