For the last three months, we have been walking through Greg McKeown's initial proposal and thought processes around this idea that his proposes as Essentialism:
- That the Essentialist is looking to find the convergence of three questions: "What am I passionate about?', "What am I good at"; and "What fills a significant need in the world?";
- That Essentialism incorporates the principles of Less but Better, Pursing Less, and Living a Life that really matters;
- That Essentialists understand they have both the power and responsibility to choose (or other people and the world will choose for us) but that within that power lies the fact that while they can choose anything they cannot choose everything and that everything they choose is a trade off for something they did not choose;
- That Essentialists take the time and energy to consider those choices wisely through carving out the time to explore, exploring thoroughly and with the abandon of a child and looking not just beneath the surface of their lives as they engage in these matters, and ensuring they have their minds "right" through needed rest.
And then, of course, they have to Select, or make a choice.
It seems only fair, as I am recording my thoughts about all of this, that I, too, should engage in the process as well.
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I am, and have always been, at best an awkward chooser. Some of that stems from the fact that I just have a wide variety of interests (and I do not think that McKeown argues per se against wide interests, just about the investment of time in them). Some of that stems - as long time readers know - from the fact that I am often more concerned about what I will miss than what I will gain, a sort of early Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) before such a term was coined.
And yet, if I am going to be intellectually consistent about this, I have to make a choice as well.
As you might imagine, there has been a lot of writing and thinking going on in the background as I have gone through this process. Part of that is simply my nature; part of that is trying, at least, to take what I am writing about seriously.
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The final list came down into two large buckets: Iai, with accompanying emphasis on physical training and the Japanese Language, and a bucket which might be called "Study of the Classicat to Byzantine world (and Anglo-Saxon England)" for lack of a more catchy phrase. There are a couple of one-offs there as well - writing (of course), and the various small scale food preparation I do, and some form of art (in my case, harp).
I thought earlier this week I had come to a decision. "Thought", of course, being the operative phrase.
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And then, of course, I was reminded of a verse, a verse I have written this very year: "If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me." That sounds a whole heck of a lot like "Maybe you do not make that ultimate decision".
As a result, this original post has been re-written.
Am I any closer to any kind of decision on Essentials? I am - as demonstrated in the list above. I know the areas that I am considering, or at least that are within my power to consider in that I am in some form or fashion good at them and I enjoy them. The most significant contribution to the world?
That lies a bit beyond my sight or grasp at the moment, leaving me only the options to pray, watch, and continue forward.
I guess I have no interest in paring down my interests to only those that I can make a difference in the world doing. I have pared down ones that I'll likely never pursue enough to enjoy or be good at but some of my interests bring me happiness and possibly effect others not at all.
ReplyDeleteEd, if the intent came across I would only keep those things of impact, that was not my intent. Still, I am at a point in time dealing with time and space (for things) that some choices need to be made.
DeleteWhy? What are you hoping to accomplish with this process. The things that catch you interest. Explore them. That is never time wasted. Sometimes it doesn't last. But with each you learn something new. I'm with Ed above in his thought. I've gone through a lot of things, some I good at and some not my cup of tea. What interests you've mention on this blog seems like a pretty full range. I'll ask again, Why? What, seems to be missing?
ReplyDeleteAnon - A good question ( and I apologize in advance That might answer may not be complete; responding on the Computer in a Pocket).
DeleteIf I look back over the things that I have done in my life, what I am struck with is that I never seem to make significant progress after a certain point. I hit a plateau and that seems to be about as far as it goes. I suppose at some level, I believe myself capable of more in one thing at least, and am somewhat distressed by the fact that my life seems to be a series of things that I pick up and put down without impact.
One of my secret greatest fears has always been represented in the parable of Christ with the landlord and the three servants to whom he gave different amounts of money. Two were rewarded for their diligence in increasing their master's wealth, while the third one who played it safe and just buried it in the hole did not receive the same praise. I suppose I'm concerned about if I am using the talents that I have been given in a responsible manner to make a difference.
OK, contemplate your navel while coming to grips with YOU cannot be great at everything nor perfect. While not knowing you other than what you share you have a long term marriage, you have 3 happy children you've raised with good values and sent them into the world with same. Working and obviously good at your job. Training with the Japanese sword, reading, dabbling in the kitchen along with writing this blog along with grueling hikes and planning vacations. What do you think is wrong or not great about this picture? How many free hours do you have left in your day to find something that will fulfill that hole in you that won't be at the expense of one of the above items.
DeleteMaybe take up baking with the yogurts or cheese and make bread with them. Become within your family as a world class bread baker. And really at the end life does anything else matter but family?
Anon -While overthinking is a so much a part of my nature that I do it without thinking at this point, I will point out that at some level the admonishment of Socrates "The unexamined life is not worth living" rolls around in my brain all the time. Perhaps I do over examine a great deal more than a should - but I suspect at least part of that is due to long years where I did not take such efforts - and that time is irreparably lost.
DeleteMy bread game could be upped.
TB, are you saying that you can choose only one bucket? Is that what Greg McKeown is saying? Or can it be a matter of budgeting time, whether daily, weekly, or (as in my case, for example) seasonally?
ReplyDeleteBased on your blog content over the years, I'd say (as a reader) that you have a wonderful variety and balance of interests. Do you feel that needs to change?
Leigh, that is a good question.
DeleteIf I had to guess based on the work, I suspect McKeown would not say "one", but likely would say One main One". So, for example, he believes that his main essential goal is helping people to design their lives of doing essential things, which she puts in place through (at the time) Teaching through a program at Stanford. He also highly rate his family as important and designs. His life around making sure that time with them is preserved and emphasized.
It' is of note, at least in the text, that he does not mention much else other than those two things. I cannot imagine that that is necessarily all that he does, but he certainly doesn't really seem to address anything else.
That said, I certainly think as a reader one could make the interpretation that budgeting time wisely and spending it accordingly in chunks is also an aspect of it. Certainly the idea of preserving time and finding ways to do those things is something he emphasizes highly.