THE KNOW IT ALL

    Have you ever encountered a person that had blatant disregard for anything you had to say? Have you ever had a conversation with someone who contradicted, or disagreed with every word that came out of your mouth; and all the while assuming an air of annoyance or superiority? Some people just think that they always know better. And unfortunately, there isn't much that the, "know it all," will take from any wisdom that you share with them. There are just some people in this world who seem to know everything, and must always be right. To encounter such individuals can be frustrating at best. But what do we do, when we find ourselves in the presence of those who dodge our every word, and seem to have no respect for our personal opinion?

    The first thing we must do, is be comfortable in our own shoes. We must not let these kinds of people make us feel inferior, or less than competent. The, "know it all," has a way of draining a person of their self-confidence, the way a vampire drains its victim of blood. And this, is essentially, what they want to do. In a sense, what they inflict is a form of emotional abuse that is designed to beat you down and not question their authority. You must always remember, that you are a worthwhile person and you are not less than they are. It doesn't matter how successful or educated the, "know it all," is; it does not in any way make them better, more wise or elevate them above anyone else.

    We must remember the teachings of the sages of old, who all told us that true wisdom is quiet and gentle. It does not air its opinion loudly or with great pride. It does not lord over others or shine a spotlight on itself in order to show everyone how important it is. We also must remember that eloquent speech and the memorization of many facts does not mean that one possesses wisdom. And most importantly, we must know that anyone who engages in the practices of belittling others, thinking they always know better, and scoffing at the opinions of those around them is most likely covering for their own low self-esteem. Either that, or the person is a true sociopath in which case they are deceiving themselves about how wonderful they truly are.

    All this being said, this does not mean that we should judge or look down upon the so-called, "know it all." We certainly should respect other people, and even do our best to reach out to such individuals. Sometimes a kind word and a shoulder to lean on is all that is required for this kind of person to let down their tough exterior and begin to act in more thoughtful ways. Such persons deserve as much prayer and positive affirmation said over them as anyone else. But of course, if they do not respond to such spiritual treatment, then the best thing you can do for yourself is to keep them at arm's-length and take what they say with a grain of salt. Remember, they are not better than you, they just think they are.