Every time we buy a new appliance or a piece of equipment, it comes with a manual.  The more complex the gear, the more extensive the manual.  Now days, not only do you have a manual, but you have access to a huge amount of information on social media adding to the richness of information on any subject.

The most complex piece of equipment we will ever encounter is another human being, and to quote Descartes “I think therefore I am”.

 

You are the most complex machine you will ever be at the controls of.

All this without a manual.

 

It is amazing to think that many people operate this superbly tuned piece of equipment, not only without a manual, but without even the temptation to investigate how it works and interacts with others.  Those people are moving through life on a completely ‘trial and error’ basis.  This would be unheard of in any other circumstances, and yet we freely accept it for ourselves.

It’s also unfortunate that people make a whole range of untested assumptions about how the machine works and how it interacts, and because it is a superbly intelligent learning machine, it does head down paths, draws conclusions and even takes actions that prevent it being the best it could be.  Sometimes we underutilize the human body so that we never see its true potential.

I understand the complexity is such that a manual could never be written, we are all unique and different in our own ways and continuously evolving.  But there are some common features that we can understand and that do form part of an ‘operations manual’.

 

Have you taken the time to investigate the basics of the wonderful machine that is you? 

 

Have you challenged some of those assumptions which are untested, outdated or just plain wrong?  Have you taken the time to see how you can best integrate with those around you?  Have you made the best use of what you’ve got?

We have more in common with our fellow humans than many of us think, there are patterns which are observable, measurable and they do have a reasonably high correlation.  This is the basis of human interaction and the basis of leadership; engaging, influencing and negotiating with others to create the most successful us we can be. Overall, we are mostly predictable, all our positive and negatives thoughts, feelings, and traits.

There may be no manual, and it may be complex, but that is no excuse for not thinking about and reflecting on ourselves to enrich our lives and, by default, enriching the lives of others.  Building on the positives, struggling with the negatives, but understanding that this is humanity, and we are never alone.  If I think or feel it, others do as well.

 

How we are different is as important as how we are the same. 

 

There are many models out there which give you a window to look through to help explain and understand the similarities and differences, which in turn allow us to understand ourselves better and then how to understand others better.  Reading the human manual will lift our understanding and help us to be better people for our family, friends, community organisations and society as a whole.