Before I start rummaging through my notes to see what there is to share it’s important to remember that some ambiguity in life is necessary for a productive existence. By ambiguity I mean being open to options. We life in a world of ambiguity – in a world where something my have ‘two or more possible meanings.’ And if something does not have two or more possible meaning – heck, we even have a language that has words that sound like other words. Are Two Pains see through?
The value of ambiguity is in interpretations. Interpretation is the firm decision that is made after a set of data has been agreed upon to exist in fact. My hand is on fire. Possible interpretation: I could die! I will die! I am dead! Ambiguous interpretation: This fire is dangerous to my hand, if not to me. Naturally, these are extremes of one possible scenario with middling interpretations from shear mind-numbing panic to lucid problem solving responses. Unless one wants his hands to burn, then the most expedient interpretation is to put the fire out – not, oh my gawd, I’m burning, or I’m dying, or what’s happening to me.
Ambiguity allows for greater choices to be made. More options present themselves to the interpreter. Experience can, and does, narrow the field of responses, but therein lies some of the problem. If we only respond to experiences a certain way we close off other opportunities to respond to something or someone with a limited field of choices. Relationships can bog down in this way. If I “just know” my significant other is going to say “no” to having cheese and macaroni tonight (and I just gots to have my mac and cheese! so I’m gonna ask anyway) then my originating question will probably be asked from a defensive position. I have preinterpreted a response from a non-ambiguous position. My Other will either sense my negative expectation and respond in kind or make any other assumption that is likely to lead to more ambiguity in the relationship than is wanted.
As a friend of mine once said: Clear as mud, right?
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