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Taking Myself Too Seriously
I'd like to spend some time talking about the other end of the spectrum. While I believe that we live in a responsibility-adversant, hedonistic, consumer culture, there are also limits one should put on one's self in the realm of taking one's self too seriously. While I feel a renewed need to take myself seriously in regards to my passions and moving forward in life, there are things I need to be wary of:
1) Being judgemental: While I have a path for myself that requires a sort of focus and attention to detail that will be very difficult, time-consuming, and make it very difficult to have a "normal" social life (as if I ever had one, let's be honest), I need to be careful not to be judgemental of other people that have lifestyles radically different from my own. First, it is important to understand the attitudes and behaviors are largely shaped by larger cultural cues, and for everyone that is engaged in activities that I dislike or aren't interested in myself, there are many factors that push people toward those things. In the past few years I have come a long way in looking toward macro cause-and-effect patterns, and I need to remind myself that nothing happens in a vacuum.
2) Being overly self-absorbed: This is tough to balance. I understand that my interests that drive my passions are viewed as esoteric to most people. I need to remind myself that my interests are mine, and while they may consume me and give me fire to get through my days, they are not everyone's and nor should they be. I need to remember to pay heed to my passions, and to also step outside of my realm frequently for perspective, creating and maintaining relationships, and to keep some spontaneity in my life.
3) Speaking over people's heads: Every profession has its lingo. I just spent a day with my aunt's husband who constantly feels a need to share how smart he is by talking about things he feels he knows more about than other people. I need to be able to function around other people without showing off, speaking to them in a way that makes them feel ignorant or spoken down to, and I need to be able to speak about things outside of my expertise comfortably without trying to redirect it toward my expertise. Take what others say for what it is worth, and always try to find some value in it.
4) Being sanctimonious: When people try arguing with me and I vehemently disagree with them, I need to be able to accept it and move on.
5) Accepting set-backs: There are going to be times when my motivation will decrease, my creativity will wane, or I'll find difficult obstacles in my path. I need to be able to accept set-backs, be ok with not reaching my goals as quickly as I'd like if I do what's in my power to get to them, and move forward from whatever situation is at hand. I need to see the opportunity in everything, even the set-backs.
If I can do these things, I think I will be able to reach a good balance in my life.
1) Being judgemental: While I have a path for myself that requires a sort of focus and attention to detail that will be very difficult, time-consuming, and make it very difficult to have a "normal" social life (as if I ever had one, let's be honest), I need to be careful not to be judgemental of other people that have lifestyles radically different from my own. First, it is important to understand the attitudes and behaviors are largely shaped by larger cultural cues, and for everyone that is engaged in activities that I dislike or aren't interested in myself, there are many factors that push people toward those things. In the past few years I have come a long way in looking toward macro cause-and-effect patterns, and I need to remind myself that nothing happens in a vacuum.
2) Being overly self-absorbed: This is tough to balance. I understand that my interests that drive my passions are viewed as esoteric to most people. I need to remind myself that my interests are mine, and while they may consume me and give me fire to get through my days, they are not everyone's and nor should they be. I need to remember to pay heed to my passions, and to also step outside of my realm frequently for perspective, creating and maintaining relationships, and to keep some spontaneity in my life.
3) Speaking over people's heads: Every profession has its lingo. I just spent a day with my aunt's husband who constantly feels a need to share how smart he is by talking about things he feels he knows more about than other people. I need to be able to function around other people without showing off, speaking to them in a way that makes them feel ignorant or spoken down to, and I need to be able to speak about things outside of my expertise comfortably without trying to redirect it toward my expertise. Take what others say for what it is worth, and always try to find some value in it.
4) Being sanctimonious: When people try arguing with me and I vehemently disagree with them, I need to be able to accept it and move on.
5) Accepting set-backs: There are going to be times when my motivation will decrease, my creativity will wane, or I'll find difficult obstacles in my path. I need to be able to accept set-backs, be ok with not reaching my goals as quickly as I'd like if I do what's in my power to get to them, and move forward from whatever situation is at hand. I need to see the opportunity in everything, even the set-backs.
If I can do these things, I think I will be able to reach a good balance in my life.
posted by Will at 10:28 PM
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