Hiding from Uneasiness
photo credit: Cyberuly
Instead of writing, I’d prefer to read.
I’d rather not write about the stuff I care about because it makes me uneasy.
I am afraid of criticism.
I am afraid of criticism because when I write about the stuff I care about I know I will be criticized, I know people will disagree, I know people will find flaws and inconsistencies in the words I use, the points I make and the topics I choose. So most of my thoughts, opinions and ideas stay hidden away in moleskins you will never see.
It’s easier to deny, say you’ve misinterpreted my point, or make excuses for myself. I’m good at that. I’m good at that because for most of my life the system I’ve lived in has taught me do the right thing, to fit in and to do what everyone is doing around me.
I don’t think I have to fit into place. I don’t have to fit into place. But, if I don’t want to fit into place, I am going to have to own my behavior, thoughts and beliefs.
The uneasiness I feel about drawing, painting, writing poetry, developing my own products, speaking in public, participating in a discussion, doing what I feel unqualified for, is more than likely going to yield negative feedback.
The uneasiness generated from negative feedback is the variable that will change your life, so start welcoming it now.
Why Write?
photo credit: dcJohn
My writing has slowed.
The truth is I have struggled to choose an idea to unpack. Failing to find the content to write about isn’t the problem. Internally, I struggle to convince myself I have something valuable to say.
The books, blogs, articles, websites & movies I want to be influenced by increase daily. However, these value-adding influences have reached contention. Information, insight, and wisdom flood my attention, yet conflicting opinion is common. More often than not, the experts reach different conclusions. For any problem or improvement (depending on the way you look at it) there seems to be numerous (sometimes thousands) scientifically proven explanations for everything.
I was convinced they would, but they don’t - the experts don’t agree.
Do dairy products increase the likelihood of heart related diseases or not? Is it healthier to cook with olive oil or coconut oil? Is Facebook an enhancing or threatening tool for our ability to connect with people?
There isn’t one solution, there are many. Too many solutions and too many variables to consider complicate our ability to make good decisions. In fact, what determines a good decision, (good for you, us, the world, our community, our school, our church, our business, or my health.)?
The world we live in is inexplicably complex. In seconds, I can read thousands of educated articles about losing 7 pounds in 4 days or doctoring a cold with natural remedies. How do we make sense of all this noise?
More importantly, why does my voice matter? Is writing a waste of my time. If experts can’t agree, what’s the point of spending my time developing my own perspective?
listen & intentionally respond to your convictions.
Convenient Involvement
If you are anything like me the social folder on your phone is filled with the more apps than any other folder, besides maybe the photography. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Voxer all sit side by side, connecting me to people, some I don’t even know.
The applications are connected to a notification system that vibrates every time something new has happened to my various accounts. My connection to these social media networks is excessive. Throughout the day, my phone vibrates provoking the same programmed response; pull the phone from my right front pocket, glance at the screen, and proceed to read the often pointless message. This habit is programmed into my brain. Sometimes, I look at my phone thinking it vibrated; however, it didn’t, nothing happened, it was all in my head.
The significance of these notifications is miniscule, but clearly demanding. While participating in present physical interactions one of the hardest things for me to do is to resist looking at my phone when I receive notifications.
My connectivity habits happen in increments of minutes, sometimes seconds, which is how I rationalize and convince myself that the behavior isn’t wasteful or useless. When I became ware of my inability to not look at my phone at a red light, I started looking at the cars to my right and to my left. It turns out lots of people do what I was doing, quick and short glances at a screen that usually only shows the time.
Quick and short glances over time accumulate to what eventually becomes a significant amount of time. Time isn’t the thing lost. Our involvement and attention to ourselves is forgotten and disregarded.
Some believe involvement and attention to self is selfish. I think otherwise. For an individual to recognize and understand their best contribution to the world, they must spend time listening and searching the depths of their inner being.
Be generous with your attention.
The Artisan Loaf
photo credit: Surlygirl
Some people love cookies. Others love pancakes. I love bread.
While many people think about what kind of cake will be served at a wedding, I think about what kind of bread will be served.
My obsession with bread has lead me to baking my own bread. It hasn’t been long that I’ve tried my hand at the baker’s skill, but truthfully bread isn’t very hard to make. The simplicity of the process surprised me.
My favorite bread is an artisan sourdough baguette.
I prefer artisan loaves over manufactured Wonder bread like loaves. There are obvious reasons for my preference, one being the artisan loaf is handcrafted with care; whereas, the cheap sliced loaf of white bread is mass produced which tastes, appears, costs, weighs and smells identical to the loaf before, after and every other one of its kind.
It’s ironic, but true.
The noticeable difference in taste, smell, and appearance is a result of the ingredients used in the different types of bread. Ingredients matter. Which ingredients you use is important; however, the number of ingredients you use is potentially more important. A handcrafted loaf is comprised of four ingredients; flour, water, salt and yeast. A manufactured loaf in its standardized production is made with many more ingredients, all of which are chemicals used for preservation and making materials go further for greater production efficiency.
The loaf with fewer ingredients is tremendously better and healthier.
Attempts At Nothing
When was the last time you intentionally did nothing for the equivalent amount of time you spend on Facebook per day? Do you think you can do it? No? Why not?
I was challenged by this idea after a discussion I had with a group of friends earlier in the week. It’s pathetic to admit, but it was nearly impossible for me to abstain from reaching for my phone or wanting to get up from my seated position, for more than 30 minutes.
Being alone and choosing to do nothing is unbelievably difficult. Obviously, nothing is a term that can lead to extensive philosophical discussion about the possibility of nothingness, but you know what I mean; no Facebook, no texting, no books, no people, no music, no writing, no phones, just you alone with your mind.
For some reason, I find more comfort in busyness than aloneness. I think it’s easier to be busy than to be bored.
Being alone & deliberately choosing to do nothing is threatening. It’s threatening for different reasons for different people; however, there are certain elements about this unusual state of being that inflicts personal discomfort. In our increasingly complex, connected & congested world, a to-do list seems necessary for daily achievement. Achievement demonstrates and communicates our social value, which is why when we designate time for non-action, we experience an overwhelming amount of guilt, guilt driven by a feeling of wasting time. Wasting time is a label we use for blocks of time we aren’t able to identify or point to a piece of achievement, such as a status update, a picture posted to Instagram, a letter written, a chapter completed, a project finished, a mile ran, a class completed, or a meal with a friend. Because our connectedness has significant influence over our identity, our failure to connect or participate puts into question our identity in our social circles.
New Belgium: a remarkable company
Making Our Love & Talent Manifest, why New Belgium has become my favorite beer to drink.
From a basement hobby to the second largest craft brewery in America, New Belgium has figured out a few things over the course of the last two decades about building a valuable company. New Belgium has been considered one of the best companies to work for in America. Some might say they are doing things right; however, more often than not it’s those who do things differently or backwards that attract & experience better results & attention.
Last week, I had the opportunity of visiting their 50 acre campus in Ft. Collins. Before traveling to Colorado, touring the New Belgium Brewery was the most suggested thing to do in Colorado by the people I asked. Obviously, there was something remarkable about New Belgium for several people to mention their tour.
Being curious about what makes people willing to recommend & feel passionate about companies, I visited the campus as a lover of good beer & as a student, ready to identify & learn what makes New Belgium worth talking about.
From the minute you walk through the door, you are physically immersed in the New Belgium culture as the fresh smell of hops, grains & newly brewed beer flood your nostrils. Beautiful bicycle & beer art cover the walls & hang from the ceiling, creating a brand image marked by creativity, whimsy & audacity.
New Belgium holds brewery tours Tuesday through Sunday (they’re closed Mondays). Each tour is free, an hour and a half long & includes five free beers. It’s understood, they are confident with their product. If you try the beer, you will definitely want more.
After my tour, I must say, if & when someone asks for a suggestion about things to do in Colorado, I will undoubtedly recommended taking the New Belgium Brewery tour because it is more than worth it.
It’s not by chance so many people have such positive interactions at New Belgium. New Belgium deliberately & intentionally crafts memorable experiences for those willing to stop by their facility. I wanted to understand the elements that shape & create such positive reactions. (here are ten of the most important pieces I observed about the construction of the fascinating New Belgium culture.)
1. Employee Owned = Unmatched Enthusiasm: On every bottle produced by New Belgium it says employee owned & alternatively empowered. Ownership evokes responsibility. After a year of employment, employees become owners of the company & receive profit sharing. Disneyland claims to be the happiest place on earth, I think they’ve something to learn from New Belgium. I’ve yet to experience such energetic & passionate employees; it must be because shareholders don’t own their company, they do.
2. Hiring Process: New Belgium spends significant time & resources finding unique people that won’t just be great employees, but also great owners. Ownership is valuable & one of the reasons why their 340 something employees make an exceptional team.
3. Born on a Bike: The company was inspired by a brewery bike tour through Belgium. It was on that trip that the name Fat Tire was hatched & it’s there that all employees visit for free with a guest for two week (paid by New Belgium) after five years of employment. Pay attention closely, and you will realize the memorable & inclusive stories New Belgium tells that create deep personal connections. You can be sure there is a story attached to all the decisions they make, including branding seasonal beer, try Dig. They are great storytellers.
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