Paradox
A statement which seems contradictory or absurd, but which expresses a truth.
Freedom is not doing what you want, freedom is wanting to do what you have to do…this kind of freedom is always rooted in practised habit. – Northrop Frye
If you want to move forward you have to stand still. To achieve certain goals it is important to first understand them and instill the right habits and practices which will enable you to achieve your goal. Most importantly – allow your goals to be altered because of the willingness to re-examine them.
If you simply jump in without hesitation the haste will cause error. It is like a child that wants to ride a bike without standing still first and listening to his father’s instruction. It does not mean that you remove error completely but perhaps disapointment and pain can be reduced greatly or even removed.
We are not brought up to embrace paradox, only human rationality which serves our own purpose. Everything has to happen quickly and efficiently and decisions have to be made faster than the speed of light because there is no time. Not true!
By doing less you achieve more. Take the concept of ‘time management’ as an example – I don’t believe in it. How can we think that by organising the details of my life I am in charge of time – it’s absurd. Instead I believe we have to detach ourselves from constraining kronos time (watch time) and attach ourselves to kairos time (season time). In other words look beyond the ticking seconds to the important matters that stretch beyond our own reality to make every second count.
Now just to be clear: I believe in punctuality and I will not let the falling leaves in autumn dictate my approach to life. To get a grip you got to let go.
Don’t plan, prepare. If I want to be prepared I cannot consider only one option. To be truly successful we have to be uncertain where we are going but not about who we are. Knowing who we are empowers us to know how we are going and that is the destination.
It is like a ship on the open sea. If you see yourself like this you position yourself to innovate, in other words you are ready to embrace different opporutinities as they arise and are in line with the purpose of your voyage. It is important to mention that once again you need to know who you are and know your final destination although you don’t know every detail of the course. Always have your true north!
This brings an important question about where we are heading both individually and together. Perhaps this could be the source of the next discussion…