This is a profound line of inquiry Mak. What change would I dedicate myself to making, even if there is no personal benefit to myself? For me it would be supporting humans move past fear and express their authentic selves and enjoy the benefit of being truly seen as they are. I know that's a mission that's not tied to a specifically tangible group or circumstance, but it's what moves me in life. If my bills were automatically paid, I'd happily contribute to that cause anonymously.
If I had been asked the same question a few weeks ago, I would have given a similar answer as you. But after reading Upstream and listening to a few difference podcasts, I think that “mission” is too vague. It doesn’t give you a specific direction (to make big change) and it’s hard to measure if you are reaching your goal.
Since posting this essay, I’ve spoken to a few people who have said it seems to hard to make a meaningful change. I think having a small clear objects, such as helping 2 homeless people is a lot easier for our brains to process and cause us to act. Once we have help 2, there’s nothing to say we can’t help more and start to make that meaningful change.
I guess I just meant that the way I worded my "mission" above wasn't communicating the small tangible steps I'm taking, but I have a lot of them and know what I need to do. For me just the act of participating in dialogue with the writing and thoughts of others is step toward the mission, because it forces me to go past my own fears of participating and relating, and its an opportunity to practice and support authentic exchange. So writing and engaging with other authors is a specific pathway for that, as is speaking and presenting.
This was a profound essay, Mak. It resonated on so many levels.
- Because I remember the tsunami
- Because 100 years later the elders of Siberut Island saved their "great-great grandchildren"
- Because weeks later we were walking through Bali and watched the water management strategy
The upstream legacy. We plant trees because we want to provide shade for those who will never know our names.
This is a profound line of inquiry Mak. What change would I dedicate myself to making, even if there is no personal benefit to myself? For me it would be supporting humans move past fear and express their authentic selves and enjoy the benefit of being truly seen as they are. I know that's a mission that's not tied to a specifically tangible group or circumstance, but it's what moves me in life. If my bills were automatically paid, I'd happily contribute to that cause anonymously.
If I had been asked the same question a few weeks ago, I would have given a similar answer as you. But after reading Upstream and listening to a few difference podcasts, I think that “mission” is too vague. It doesn’t give you a specific direction (to make big change) and it’s hard to measure if you are reaching your goal.
Since posting this essay, I’ve spoken to a few people who have said it seems to hard to make a meaningful change. I think having a small clear objects, such as helping 2 homeless people is a lot easier for our brains to process and cause us to act. Once we have help 2, there’s nothing to say we can’t help more and start to make that meaningful change.
I guess I just meant that the way I worded my "mission" above wasn't communicating the small tangible steps I'm taking, but I have a lot of them and know what I need to do. For me just the act of participating in dialogue with the writing and thoughts of others is step toward the mission, because it forces me to go past my own fears of participating and relating, and its an opportunity to practice and support authentic exchange. So writing and engaging with other authors is a specific pathway for that, as is speaking and presenting.