maphilo

028: Coming back to the same themes

maphilo -

371 words.

There is the joy of having done something a few times and seeing the same themes. That comes from the knowledge of being consistent and fleshing out what is inside you. We don’t get there directly or consciously, but through a circular dance.

This parallels with a theory of learning: the circular approach. I admit I went to Perplexity to check out the proper term for it, just to gain confidence that I know what I am talking about. Something I wish I had more of was the confidence that I had things to say of value, which goes against a defence mechanism I had adopted at work: That no one is irreplaceable and anyone would be able to do my job.

Exploration comes from both active engagement and peripheral diffusion. There is the hard work needed to be put in through what poeple widely recognise as ‘hard work’: Reading about it, talking to people, creating. But much is also achieved when the idea is allowed to ruminate in the mind.

Engage the subconscious mind; it is much more powerful than conscious awareness. That’s why prepping the page (something I liked the idea of doing but always refused to do) works.

Themes I’m circling around:

  • Squandered time → efficiency
  • Building a community
  • Design of delightful experiences. This is where I lack the most, from absorbing everything through diffusion

What will be the themes I see in my work one year from now? One month now? Hopefully the frequency of output reaches that. Find out where you stop in the process and why. Figure out the barriers that keep you from taking the logically best option.

Humans are such difficult creatures to convince. Of course I say this as an example of those difficult to convince. Something that helped: Noticing whenever friction came out and acknowledging. Sometimes that can be resolved through changing the workspace or the process.

At other times, it can indicate a knot deeper down. What exactly about posting this is making it hard?

(So far I am convinced writing is a workspace issue for me)

Going back to the feeling of cringe a while ago. This is an indicator of growth. Growth only comes from adventure.