How hard is it to follow intructions?

Honestly, following instruction is actually very difficult indeed, irrespective of how old or how young you are.  A friend reported last year that one of the comments on her daughter’s primary school report read:  “M has finally learnt to follow instructions.”   

This is actually a remarkable achievement, and not one that I have mastered yet.  I find that there is a strong link between not following instructions and critical thinking.  It is clear to me that critical thinking and blind obedience are mutually exclusive. 

I have never in my life been in a situation where blind obedience was beneficial. Aah yes, the malady of blind obedience. Let us count the ways it hurts us.

I find it particularly difficult to follow instructions that are arbitrary, or somer.  That is the critical part of my brain). 

 I want to know why I must do something, I want to understand the terms and conditions, the limitations of the instruction, but primarily I need to know why

I find it difficult to follow instructions that are not universally applied.  I find it difficult to follow instructions that invade my boundaries, intrude upon my sense of self and privacy. Infringements into my space always generate outrage (and in some instance a tantrum or two).  My response is, and will always be.