Change Starts With Your Example, Not Your Opinions

The principle of education is to lead by example. In fact, we are all someone’s role model or benchmark: a source of influence. In this sense, opinions that do not serve as an example are of little use. Bad examples are even more useful than good opinions: they are a benchmark for what to do.

From childhood to old age, we learn from examples and from first-hand experiences. This type of learning takes place when observing another person’s behavior and requires a series of factors for it to take place correctly. Concretely, the person who sets an example must have interesting characteristics for the observer. In addition, for vicar learning it is preferable that the conduct be instrumental and repeated after seeing the example.

This is how this type of learning bears fruit, often more quickly, efficiently and economically than with other types of didactics. Of course, certain behaviors, especially those at risk, cannot be learned only through examples.

“There is nothing sadder than good advice with a bad example. “

There is nothing more than an education, and this is the example

How many people can be won over with a good example? How many people can you captivate with your opinion? Aside from rhetoric and good defense of our opinions, the examples are much more educational because they strengthen the learner: he / she can appreciate in an almost direct way the most likely consequences of a given behavior.

Education does not happen only through speaking, the practical part in a certain way corresponds to the ultimate goal of learning. If we want to educate our children, nephews or students, we must take into account the fact that we can say things to them, it will be our actions that will mark a before and after in their conduct.

It is inappropriate to give a series of commands and to do the opposite, on a personal, social or family level. This type of person loses effectiveness as a role model, by the dissonance that exists between what they say and what they do, by sending contradictory messages to the person observing.

“There is something human, more lasting than the phantasmagorical superstition of the divine: the example of the great virtues. “

-Jose Ingenieros-

With words you move, with example you train

Example is the only lesson that all men can read. Words, on the contrary, are loaded with connotations and meanings. We are not going to deny the fact that sometimes words can be up to healers, and can cause a change of perspective, but in order to be able to change a situation, their effect is usually not very long lasting.

If we want to change our attitude, our schedules, or our habits, it will not be enough to repeat it once or twice  ; the facts will make the difference. Certainly the words serve as a warning to us and allow us to determine which examples are most appropriate, but it can be considered that learning or complete change has only taken place after the conduct has been carried out.

Words have the power of conviction through hearing, but example has the power of truth seen and lived. Words are really powerful when approved by personal example, otherwise they would be like resonating metal, without any validity for the person who is just listening to words.

People who do nothing but talk will be able to convince others, but for a limited time, except that those who are persuaded can set in motion the learner in the first place and experience its consequences. In the example of the speaker, the words really have a stronghold. If there is no example, much of the example turns to effervescence.

“I didn’t persuade people with words, because words convince little. I persuaded people with facts and examples. “

-Juan Domingo Perón-