Understanding .... Are you understanding?

Before you answer that question, think about the word "Understanding." The dictionary says it's the ability to understand something: comprehension,. or to be sympathetically aware of other people's feelings; tolerant and forgiving as well as having insight or good judgement. That's a pretty broad spectrum. Now try to answer that question. How many times have you said or heard, "That would be great if we lived in a perfect world?" Quite a few I would imagine. Since we don't live in a perfect world, many parts of the meaning of something, or a word will interact with another, rather than be descriptive of the word. For example, If you think you are understanding, are you equally understanding 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Of course your not. Therefore, some of the parts of that definition, actually define each other. I'll make it easy and make the keywords in that definition bold. Doesn't understanding come in levels, or degrees? Your degree of understanding can be influenced by your level of tolerance at the time. Your level of forgiveness is determined by the type of event. Your insight is a result of what you are willing to see and accept. Therefore, would it make sense to say, that all those things constantly vary? So how can you say your understanding? That is why I say time and time again. We don't live in a black and white perfect world. And many want to, and actually convince themselves that they do. But we live in "THE REAL WORLD." A world where things do vary. Your level of tolerance, patience, insight, and forgiveness vary. Therefore varying your degree of understanding. Let's not confuse understanding with compassion. Two completely different words with completely different meanings. Actually, they also originate from different parts of the brain. You can be understanding on some things and not others. Does that make you a person that is not understanding? No, because now your understanding is driven by your values.

There are not to many words that have a cut and dry definition that apply at all times. Also, your level of understanding has time limits. You might only be able to understand something for just so long. For example. Your best friend breaks up with her long time boyfriend. She or he is devastated. Your their best friend, so night after night they call you and want to talk about. Try to ascertain the reason why. At first you are very understanding and tolerant. Possibly because it may have happened to you. But how long does that last before you aren't understanding and tolerant anymore? Before it just gets friggin old. So you stop answering your phone when it's your friend. You try to change the subject before you finally reach the point where you just say, ENOUGH, get over it. It's not that you don't understand, or you're not understanding, it's that you've reached your limit of tolerance. Understanding also means honesty. It means that at some point you have to be honest. When you reach that point where you don't understand anymore, or enough is enough, then say what's on your mind. Sometimes the other person or situation needs a push. A wake up call in order to come back to reality. So don't hang up the phone, walk away, end a conversation, and then come down on yourself because you think you weren't understanding. You just might have brought life back to "THE REAL WORLD."