An unexamined philosophy

I saved this quote from Venkatesh Rao not knowing why it spoke to me:

“I used to think of resourcefulness as a kind of practical intelligence, but I’ve recently started thinking of it as a combination of an energy state, an attitude, and an unexamined philosophy. A lived and embodied, but rarely articulated, Weltenschauung. Rarely articulated because the people living and embodying it are too busy being alive to indulge in the (let’s face it) slightly acting-dead game of articulating things.”

Then, when I read Dan Rockwell’s post “Yes Is Better Than No,” what spoke to me in Rao’s quote started revealing itself.  What Dan said was:

“The law of holes, “When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”  No is a hole.  Yes is a door.

5 ways to live into yes:

#1.  Focus on what you have instead of what you don’t have.

1. Progress is built on using what you have.
2. Current strengths are the foundation of future abilities.

Don’t worry about what others have.  Use what you have.  Show up saying, “I see what we don’t have.  What do we have?

#2.  Live beyond, “I can’t do that.”

1. Stop comparing yourself with the achievements of others.  It’s self-defeating.
2. Set lower goals.  Find something that feels achievable if you’re a can’t-do-person.  Try doing one push-up, for example.

Show up asking, “What’s the easiest thing to do next?

#3.  Shift from limits to opportunities

1.  Practice gratitude.
2. Help someone else.  There’s always a place for someone who shows up to serve.
3. Notice negative self-talk.

Show up saying, “I see what we can’t do.  What can we do?

#4.  Adopt a “next-step” approach

1. Turn to the present.  Don’t look up the hill.  Take the next step.
2. Think about ability, not weakness.
3. Put energy into action.  Jettison rumination.
4. Visualize the next step.  Let go of your need to win.

Just take the next step.  Passivity makes us pathetic.  Show up asking, “What’s the next step?”

#5.  Notice something that’s right.

1. Reflect on what is right more frequently than wallowing in what is wrong.
2. Go on a what’s-working-walkabout.

Show up to ask, “What’s working?””

I needed to hear “when find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”  Why was I in this damned hole in the first place?  Why was I the personification of NOT living into yes, as outlined above?  And, what did my unexamined philosophy have to do with it?  Why was I not the resourceful person I thought I was?

To be resourceful is to have the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.  (I like the clever part.) 

A philosophy can be defined as an attitude held by a person that acts as a guiding principle for behavior.

OK, I’ve been less than clever and really slow on figuring out this journey into “recharting,” battling with a loss of relevance.  Maybe the real issue has been not examining my philosophy.  I think I’ve tied the concept of philosophy to mission inappropriately.  My “attitude” tied to my “behavior” had been rooted in my past work to help other people – students, staff, a corporation – the work I did for and with those outside of myself and my family. 

The “work” I’m allowed to do now – having time to indulge in new interests – and the somewhat unexpected challenges of helping those closest to me, while it may seem similar, is far from that.   Focusing inward and spending significantly more time focused on helping those I can’t step away from requires a different philosophy.  It’s a philosophy that I haven’t embraced yet, because I haven’t realized it was what I needed to do.