Welcome to column 21.19, and thanks again for reading, subscribing, and sharing.
Each essay is a snapshot of ideas, beliefs, questions, and hopes. The column is part of my quest for a unified world and country that can become a better (make that .. Great) place for all.
There is something that is warming to be at one with others. Life is challenging and when we can go in the same direction it helps us feel acknowledged while relaxing us. As groups, countries, alliances, or relationships splinter there is a sense of loss.
For some people, the separation turns into malice, competition, lip-biting, avoidance, or outright hostility.
As George Washington was ending his first term, he planned to retire to Mount Vernon and in so doing created a document to all of the American people. After he was talked into (feeling guilty for abdication) staying for one more term, he dusted off his “Farewell Address” (edited with Hamilton, Jefferson and Monroe) that spoke of the Union needing to be the only thing that mattered - more so than religion, political differences, or the media’s desire to create divisions to sell newspapers. With all the sacrifice during war (the American Revolution was no exception) and all the mis-deeds created in the face of fear, Washington knew that staying aligned and focused was paramount for the nascent nation’s future.
In our careers and relationships, it is no different. There are always reasons to chart a new course, some valid, but knowing when to steer off-course is a personal decision that impacts others. I value steering a little off rather than a rapid change so that others can choose to follow a new course with you or choose to abdicate under their own terms. As we know, misunderstandings still occur.
When changing, it is easy to think about just yourself, but when you converse, share, and chart a new course with others and for others, often the result can be clearer or more satisfying for all. As I have written (21.15 Leadership), this is true in business, government or personal life. The more one is removed from the populace, the layers of media, supervisors or family members can re-shape the message, its urgency, its meaning, or your ability to alter/negotiate a different course. While we may not be able to change what our pastor or rabbi says, what our managers do, or our parents do, our politicians do, maybe we can change! If we ourselves are the managers, clergymen, parents, politicians or media members, maybe we can do a bit more to invite alignment.
I was listening to a podcast (linked below), where an esteemed professor/writer (his book linked too) spoke of Maslow’s needs, and he uncovered that Maslow never had a pyramid, and in fact did not see it that way (he saw that actualization was more integrated across factors)- his new book takes Maslow’s later papers to finalize his work. My point is that interpretations by the public, the media, other scientists, each of us, is often incorrect. It takes our balanced approach and learning as a society to share what we know, don’t know, think we know and enable timely input. When I think of the testing of pesticides and of drugs or even public policy (or finding old papers of Abraham Maslow), I know it can take years before we truly understand the effects of change. So we should invite change but as I have written before, have appropriate regulations and audit processes to ensure a feedback loop that is transparent and suitable for the risk.
As many of the readers of this column know, I am a proponent of alternative medicine in addition to ”western/ traditional” medicine. For me the connections and range between the 2 worlds connect, and I follow many scientists and doctors who feel the same. I know many of you have learned to ascribe to similar approaches, while fearing the ire (eye rolling?) of your own medical practitioners. But as trusted partners and readers, our communities change as we learn and experience together. While I personally don’t force you to take Vitamin C, D, and Iodine (for hormone balance) with Covid, I know many of you now do. If you take Lumbrokinase, Selenium, Quercetin, Mushrooms, or Amino Acids - we are clearly friends!
Next time you are thinking of changing course, think about how you can unify those around you during the process rather than forcing others to follow you (often on a wing and a prayer). Each of us may not know the answers, but together with a worldwide community that invites input and calm discourse, I hope we all transcend beyond our current state.
I have had several people ask me how long it takes me to write each column.
I often get an idea that excites me, and will write the bones of what I want to discuss in 30 minutes. Then over the course of a few days, I think more on the subject and past readings, and add and subtract. When I pump my fist or just feel it is ready for you, then I publish it. I do not have a separate editor, so after publishing I will find smaller / grammatical errors that I change. On a few occasions I found more egregious errors that I corrected, but errors where I just wrote too much, I leave in tact. People who just read my email rather than go to the richardferdman.substack.com link often never see my corrections (suggesting I should improve my editing). My process is home grown but as I wrote in 21.3 (Motivation), I just have to do what pushes me. Bear with me as I learn.
Thanks for reading and until next time!
Joyously,
Richard at richardferdman@substack.com
Books, Articles and Podcasts inspiring this or referenced within include: History of the Ancient World, Washington's farewell, Unconscious Bias, 10% inefficiency, Podcast w/ Scott Barry Kaufman, Kaufman's book "Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization"
If you go to https://richardferdman.substack.com/ you will see the latest version of the columns (including any new post-publishing edits/ corrections). You can choose to become a friend of mine on Goodreads at this link.
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