The Inside On Insight
Insight speaks of penetration – of having a clear or deep perception of a situation, a feeling of understanding, and a grasping of the inner nature of things intuitively.
When I think of the word insight I think of cutting through all superficiality and exploring the depths. Delving beneath the surface. Searching for the truth. Not allowing oneself to be swayed by what appears on the top layer, but having the courage to investigate further and deeper.
Search for the truth, and develop the skills and the determination to do so.
Why?
For we live in an age where so much information is presented to us as the ‘truth’ and ‘nothing but the truth’.
But is it?
Recently there have been individuals in my nation who have lost all their life savings along with homes and other assets, because many of them had based their investment decisions purely on the endorsement by some respected government official or celebrity. Thorough personal investigation was traded for the cheaper and extremely costly version of surface perception and opinion. No insight was used.
Experts are to be respected. But nothing can be more safer and wiser than by you and I becoming more educated about the subject matter in question, and by doing our own research. Simultaneously, at the same time we need to get input from wise counselors whom we’ve developed trust with over a period of time. Abdication of the responsibility of personal inspection can be devastating.
Someone once told me the importance of two things:
1. Follow Your Gut – Pay attention to your first impression or your first response to the subject at hand. In most cases it will be correct. Trust yourself.
2. Sleep On It – Don’t ever allow yourself to be influenced in a rush or a push. Allow some time away from the pressure pot of decision making to gain the best perspective without bias nor outside influence.
Don’t allow yourself to be swayed by the gloss or the glamor, the quick profit, the once in a lifetime offer that’s ‘too good to be true’. Be prepared to investigate. Be prepared to say ‘no’. Be willing to walk away.
A friend in the real estate industry once shared with me that there will always be a once in a lifetime deal today, tomorrow and forever. If you miss out on today’s deal, come back tomorrow and there will always be another one.
Don’t fall for the lie. Don’t trip over the half truth. With insight as your companion seek nothing but the truth and the whole truth – and you will live a rich life as a free man or woman.
