Questions
14 February 2013
In this section I'll pose questions that begin to get to the root of identity, for a person, organisation or brand. Looking forward to your thoughts...
In this section I'll pose questions that begin to get to the root of identity, for a person, organisation or brand. Looking forward to your thoughts...
Andrea Wilson
We're gathering quite a collection.
Here's a gem of a response from Doug:
What has formed me in life begins with the example of my mother who had a keen sense of the value of each person she encountered. She could find their charisma and celebrate it in her very quiet, powerful way. Then early on when I was eight years old, my father having died when I was six, my mother wanted men in my life and enrolled me in an Episcopal military academy. I quickly saw that to survive the hazing of new boys, being a natural-born coward myself, I'd have to find ways to add value to the lives of my class-mates. I became a trusted adviser to the other kids with my focus on what they did well.
Then as a prep school freshman when I was twelve, I had to read the Iliad in Greek as the education was classical in nature. On the Achaean side of the siege of Troy was a general named Nestor. His principal role in the war was to sit in his tent and Agamemnon, Menelaus, and Achilles would come to him for advice and counsel. I wondered how one would find such a role in the 20th century. It took me a while, but I figured out and have lived it out to my great joy. I find nothing more delightful than to shine light on the strengths that people have and then to help them soar.
Andrea Wilson
Shashi, Interesting, the idea of practices that increase our self awareness and expression.
Kerry-Fleur, What a poetic interpretation. If we can tune in to the moments when we are being our true selves - and when we are not - we can know intuitively who we are, even if we don't put it into words. It would be good to be able to recognise these moments more easily and find a way to live there more, don't you think?
Rodrigo, I really like the responsibility and objectivity in this - taking ownership of the way things are and seeing clearly without the ego interfering.
Shashi Kapoor
Martial arts. Teaching me to deepen the connection between my mind and physical body and increase my awareness of things happening outside of it. Developing this connection has had a profound effect on my faculty of self expression.
Andrea Wilson
Your comments are such gems. I've been wondering whether I can say much more, or even need to. I'll think about this but in the meantime would like to say thank you!
Kerry-Fleur Schleifer
Being who I am
&
Being who I am not
Rodrigo Dauster
Programming computers.
In 1980, my younger brother and I combined our saved pocket money to buy a Commodore VIC20. I don't even remember when I learned to program it--it's as if I always did. Breaking down problems into it's smallest constituent parts and then defining simple set of rules that addressed each of these is how my brain works--it's how I face life.
But, I did learn something: I learned to look at myself whenever something doesn't work.
When my computer program didn't work there was no one to blame. Moaning, swearing, complaining... all pointless. I learned that the only way the issue would be resolved was by looking inwardly; by carefully reconsidering my assumptions and identifying where I went wrong.
It's not a question of blaming myself as opposed to blaming others--that's too negative.
It's about having the confidence to know that every problem can be solved and that the power to solve it is in my hands (whether I solve it alone or with the help of others).