Lamp Posts

I dealt with a lot of underwriters when I was an insurance agent. An underwriter makes the final decision on whether a company will write an insurance policy on a certain risk. They often disagreed with agents and were big on reciting underwriting rules. I often thought that rules in the hands of an underwriter were like lamp posts in the hands of a drunk. They were more for support than illumination. 

When they would tell me the rule, I would ask them for the reason for the rule. They often asked me to repeat myself because they had not been asked that question before. If the reason didn’t fit the situation we were discussing I would continue to plead my case. Sometimes there were unwritten rules which I pushed back against even harder.

Rules can be very useful. I used them when I coached basketball. The right rules helped the players perform as a team. It brought unity and that’s important. I would always tell the players the reason for the rule. I wanted them to adopt the team philosophy, not be mindless automatons. That helped them adapt to the ever changing conditions on the court.

Daily I search for reasons to help me know what to do. If the reason helps me consistently in certain situations then it can rise to the level of a semi-rule. It assists me in making quick consistent decisions, but the reason always tags along with it. Why am I doing this?

I grew up with rules, just like every other child. I’ve examined most of them for their reason. I’ve also made up my own unofficial rules, which can be even more restrictive. They can morph into secret beliefs I have  about myself. That’s a powerful type of rule. They can be comforting because they are familiar. However, without illumination they are incredibly limiting.

I love the play Wicked for its exploration of different perceptions. My favorite line is “It may be your secret, but that doesn’t make it true.”

I do my best not to be intoxicated by the powerful cocktail of rules/beliefs.

I’ll continue to examine the reason behind the ones I get from others and especially from myself. I prefer illumination instead of support. Nothing more complicated than perception.

May you have enough today, one moment at a time.