Context is the reference. It is something that’s operating in your mind whenever you are taking any action, or even thinking.
Dictionary.com defines context as: 1. The part of a text or statement that surrounds a particular word or passage and determines its meaning. 2. The circumstances in which an event occurs; a setting.
Context decides the outcomes. If a person has sight problem, and can see only yellow and blue color, everything in life would be either yellow or blue. Probably green, if he would try hard and the senses would be able to mix yellow and blue. Most of the things in our life are driven by the context we have for them.
If I think a colleague is dumb, all my thoughts and actions will be determined by that. The way I talk to him, even if it has a layer of encouragement or knowledge sharing, will always be driven by my context of him being dumb. When I work with him, I will always feel that I will have to do his job because he is not going to be able to do it nicely. And guess what, the colleague would certainly become dumb!
The reality could be different. He may or may not be dumb. Nevertheless, if I change my context, it can bring in very different results. If the context changes to be “he is quite good, but may be stuck on an area or two. What can I do to support him?”, then you can imagine the results it would produce.
Context is decisive. Not content!