What We Want to Hear

It amazes me what we hear nowadays and how far it is from the actual truth or law.

During my adoption process I heard all types of stories and thoughts from individuals about how they figured the process happens. It was funny at times and frustrating at other times. Sometimes their thoughts were so far-fetched and other times they were stuck on these thoughts (who knows where they got them from) there was no way to convince them of the real process.

I noticed it when I started investigating the actual rules and regulations for landlords and tenants. I actually found out there were a lot of misconceptions about each of the rules for both the landlord and tenant. I actually wished when I was a tenant I had researched things previously so I would have known my rights.

My job is another. We often joke that folks will listen to the advice they receive at the nearest coffee shop while ignoring the actual advice they receive from the professionals.

Why is that?

Perhaps what we hear is better than what the actual truth is. Or perhaps we have formed it in such a bad frame in our minds that there is no way of convincing us otherwise because we simply do not want to ever proceed.

But then I realize that gossip works the same way.

It seems we think it is okay to get the latest gossip on famous people but then with the issues some of them have had to deal with in regards to the paparazzi it is definitely something I would not want to deal with on a daily basis. The media (news definitely included here) has a way of distorting what is true. They also portray the most drama stories (sadly).

It seems to be okay when we are venting about someone, but then suddenly all the bad things about this person come to light instead of a rounded perspective.

I have always enjoyed hearing the latest gossip about myself. I figured it was a way to catch up with what was going on in my life. Actually it made me laugh at what path people thought I was going to take when that was not even close to the reality. But then that is what gossip does.

It takes a small truth and by the time it goes from person to person, the facts have distorted a bit (or perhaps were distorted from the beginning). And so it turns out we in fact believe what we have heard in the latest gossip that we do not even hear (or know) what the truth is anymore.

I know sometimes when we try to correct someone on the actual facts of our lives based upon what the latest word going around about is, it sometimes comes with resistance and a “Are you sure?” (because obviously we do not know what is actually going on in our lives).

How the lies are more believable than the truth, I will never know. Perhaps the truth is boring or not interesting. Gossip is enticing and we like it whether what is said is true or not, who cares if we believe a bunch of lies, right?

I hope not. I am sure we have all been on the wrong side of the gossip and it has panged our hearts a little when we find out what is being said. Perhaps when we hear total lies about ourselves we are laughing, but not so much when it is a little bit of truth mixed in with a little bit of the lies.

And that makes me realize with finding out the proper laws. A lot of times it is a little truth mixed in with a little lies and we run with it. It’s the truth part that makes us think everything is okay. What we really need to realize is it is the lies part that we need to watch out for.