The morning I decided to give up “humph” a professor was speaking on Book TV with inordinate “black pride”. Instead of reacting with “Humph, does she know we have a black president?” I listened. And I learned. And I learned a great deal. I bought her book and am still learning with deep compassion.
The next day I was annoyed to have to sit through a presentation of an opposing view. Instead of “humph”, I listened compassionately. And I gleaned a great number of holes in the opposing view that probably would have gone undetected. This strengthened my view and brought a welcome sense of peace about the topic! (I then said “humph” to myself for having ever stopped listening compassionately.)
Scott, VA