A Reflection With No Beginning

 

Intro Minus Reflection

From time to time, there must be an update in focus; the lens we use for the world and where we are zooming in and out. And when. To aid in remembering these shifts, I usually have some “Framing Mantras”. The last time I did this work (and it stuck) was for the 2016 WCHS Graduating Class speech. It was supposed to be for them, but I think it ended up meaning more to me. These 5 mantras guided me through the decade fairly well. But, it’s time to dust off the effort; even though these mantras will continue to guide me, probably for the rest of my life, some must be added. I need a fresh visit to how I’m doing life (ie. rules of life)

The principle reason that I need to update my rules of life is that the ones posited above were note written for me. They ended up being useful for me, and I shared them as lessons learned by me, yet they were not oriented toward me. This effort differs because it centers in my self; it follows how well I know myself (recall: “know thyself”). Therefore, I expect these less for public consumption rules will hold up for a bit. Perhaps not a decade… unsure… maybe more, maybe less. It’s a time will tell kinda thing. Also to be considered as a reflect on each of the proposed mantras. (note, this intro is being written before reflection). 

Go with what’s going.

This has been my go-to mental framework. A starting place. When thinking about what to actually do, simultaneously already consider what is already in motion. No sisyphean tasks here; quite the opposite… jump on the cart already rolling downhill!

In doing what isn’t don’t forget to do what is.

We are creative beings; neglecting that is stagnation, a state not intended for us, except at times to learn. We must explore into new creations (what isn’t) but there is no new without what has already been (what is). This is something of a paradox, but it is the way us humans do it. We only have the ideas and materials that have been passed down to us, but new combinations and permutations may prove useful for furthering development. This is common understanding. 

The reason that I need to explicitly write this mantra is that I often consider too far down the road. I am making homemade CDs and considering some novel and cool DIY design for packaging the titles and lyrics along with the disc, when maybe what I need to put in the work for is getting out something simple and elegant. Put that out there and let the next step come. Ultimately, we leave our fingerprint on the world, but we start by looking and DOING as others have done, or have paved the way for us to do. We do what IS. Finally, this becomes what ISN’T! 

It’s easy to see what’s wrong; can you see what’s right?!

This is more conscientious and evaluative. Typically, I will observe myself in a “fault finding frame of mind”, often because of a series fo perceived and experienced ills. It’s at these times that I need to step back and see what’s right, not just what’s wrong. What’s wrong must be confronted so that it does not advance in the progression of wrongness, however there is always a push from wrong or right, so it’s critical to advance what is right along with the suppression of what’s wrong. If focus can be shifted entirely to what’s right, even better, as this builds momentum for the good. 

Plan your work and work your plan.

Coach Hunt from East days gave me this one. A simple paradigm that I remembered as I was considering that I needed something in my mental frameworks that established scheduling. Without scheduling the process of success becomes much more whimsical. With scheduling there are so many more value added ingredients added to the stone(r) soup. Vis-a-vis: you schedule a task to complete; you either complete or don’t complete the task, and, completed or not, you have fodder for reflection when considering the next task. Notice how “work your plan” part is not dogmatic. It’s not “stay the course”, it’s work your plan with the most recent data suggesting what to do next. The language is circular, like the process.

Get it scheduled and follow the schedule!

There’s a difference between speculation and investment. 

Speculation = what I guess will happen. Investment = what I’m working toward making happen.

I picked this up from an investment firm commercial, actually. That shouldn’t come as a surprise given the language. Anyhow, this mantra is aimed at my habit of mind which has me knowing what will happen (speculation) and toward what CAN happen (investment). I tend to know and therefore not work… but I need much more of the kind of knowledge that leads directly to work.  

Love thy neighbor

I wrote a blog post on how “neighbor” is a great frame for who we should consider helping. In the post I wondered, like Jesus day scholars, who is considered my neighbor. Jesus points us to a very compelling point on this, one we haven’t been able to shake for millennia: EVERYONE…

Whosoever… ALL!

It’s not that compelling means cogent, but it’s part of the way there. When compelling finds partnership with plausible, all of a sudden we have an unstoppable force! 

Kindness is Wisdom

It follows, “there is none in life, But needs it and may learn”. The quote is from Festus by Philip James Bailey, and I found it because I needed a kindness quote, something that ascended to the supremacy of kindness. There is a lot to behold here in, even the “sameness, the identification, the taking together of 2 others” of “kindness”. It is the root of cooperation and in its essence is captured our “long obedience in the same direction”. Really I just needed a kindness quote and this does about as well as any other.