Worshop thoughts: Day 1

So as I mentioned previously, there was a hell of a lot of information to process in tonight's talk/workshop with Rory Miller. Rory is a really cool dude. He's soft spoken. He comes across as almost shy. He himself says he's an introvert. I like people like that. Probably cause I'm like that. Now I gotta muster up the courage to just shake his hand after class. I tend to get nervous around people who's ideas/words/actions I really like/relate to, especially if they're older. Not sure why yet. Something to do with not really feeling like an adult that can speak on equal grounds...? Anyway...

Rory basically gave a 3 hour slideshow presentation that could easily have been an outline for a whole college semester course. The topic? Conflict communications. Forget college course. How about a whole degree program. Maybe that already exists.

I can't possibly begin to break down or report everything that was said tonight. There is however one thing from the presentation that is ticking in my brain. It is related to the ideas that Seth Godin discusses in his book The Icarus Deception. It is this:

Your monkey brain simultaneously makes you scared to actually put your creation out in the world for fear of criticism as well as makes you scared to actually have to change your lifestyle should your creation become a success.

What's critical to understand is that the real thing your monkey brain is preventing you from is change. It's not the critics you are afraid of. It's having to actually change because now people know who you are and like what you do. That means responsibility. That means a shift in lifestyle. We think we want that success, the accolades, the praise, the people buying your album. But deep down you are scared to accept that. This connects to what Marianne Williamson says about being more afraid of our "light" rather than our "darkness".

All very profound stuff. It's bigger than just "conflict communications". I think what Rory Miller is presenting is a way to actually be a change-maker and peace-maker in the world.

Can't wait for Day Two of the workshop...

Elbow SMASH!  
- Hiji Até