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Message for June ‘05

ATTITUDES

Of late, we come across many references to ‘attitude’ – such as in the now common expression – x has an attitude problem – meaning x is obstructive in his / her behaviour or in receptivity to instructions or advice.

We have all come across such barriers thrown up by attitude which get in the way of obtaining co-operation from others, and in turn in achieving set community goals. Attitude, of course, consists of a set of beliefs or ideas which determine our actions and thought processes as individuals. Most of these beliefs, ideas and values are acquired by association from family, peer groups, teachers and other sources of influence, in the process of growing up, of maturing if you like. However, motivation needs internal processing to ascribe weight and currency to these beliefs, values etc., and it is not always that maturity is a benefit bestowed by the mere passage of time and years. Many persons age but do not necessarily mature.

Attitudes, therefore, can be positive or negative, and it would be obvious as to which produces results. Very often, one comes across negative attitudes, which are exhibited for no reason other than to exercise a sort of power – the power of withholding co-operation, and negating the goal of the good, or in a manner of speaking, for the ability to say ‘No’.

The other problem with having an ‘attitude’ is that it tends to judge any issue by a set of beliefs or ideas of the person rather than by the assessed merit of another, or another’s proposition. You will observe that such an attitude is always of a negative connotation.

We are all, in one degree or another, repositories of knowledge but our progress from knowledge to wisdom is hampered by the lack of a considered and continual reflection based on experience. Attitudes need understanding of experiences and received knowledge, of the needs and concerns of others, with whom we share this Universe.

Goodness, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth are all good underlying principles leading to positive attitudes – but to quote the great Dr. Samuel Johnson - On Boswell saying that a certain man had good principles, Johnson observed that he did not wear them out in practice!

Masonry is all about the right attitudes leading to ethical practices, if and when it is properly understood.