Difficult questions →

Published October 29, 2021  ·  All posts on Oct 29  ·  ,

What would be a good question to ask? How do I evaluate a potential question, in real time during a conversation, to decide if it’s good? What can I do to make this guest enjoy this conversation? In the same vein: What should I do? And what, if anything, must I do? What does this person really want to talk about? What don’t they want to talk about? And if I figured that out, is the right thing to, to honor their desire to avoid it, or to help them face it? Can I help them more by letting them find their own energy level, or by trying to help them change their energy level? Would calming down enable them to communicate more effectively? Would riling them up help them work through their feelings? Should we explore how they are feeling, or how this event we’re discussing made them feel? Should I be more open, and share more with them? Or would my consuming our time doing that, block them from doing what they need to do, or from saying what they need to say? Should we be having more fun? Should we be more serious? Should we instead do the opposite, (make light of a serious subject, or vice versa,) of that society would normally expect? Should I ask them a deep question? Should I ask a question on the same line-of-thought and take us even deeper? Deeper a third time? Or should I pivot to indicate that I want to follow them, not drive them into a corner?

What’s that? …oh, you thought I was going to be talking about the actual questions one might ask another person. Yeah no that’s another question altogether. :)

ɕ

Questions with Sebastián Ruiz Jiménez →

Published October 28, 2021  ·  All posts on Oct 28  ·  

Questions with Sebastián Ruiz Jiménez

How does exploring one’s center and asking questions influence personal growth and understanding?

Asking the right questions transforms challenges into opportunities for growth.

I think that a way to find creativity and inspiration is, try to read something, try to see something that is not what you usually see, that is not what you usually do. Make yourself feel uncomfortable, and make yourself feel comfortable in the uncomfortable.

~ Sebastián Ruiz Jiménez (2:30)

The discussion explores the concept of finding one’s center and how this aligns with personal growth. Sebastián emphasizes the importance of stepping outside comfort zones to spark creativity and curiosity. He shares insights on seeking inspiration through diverse experiences, such as books, podcasts, and challenging unfamiliar activities.

The conversation also touches on the importance of asking meaningful questions, both of oneself and others, to uncover purpose and direction. Philosophical principles, movement practices, and mindfulness techniques are interwoven to illustrate how individuals can align their actions with deeper values. Practical lessons, like maintaining good technique in physical training, underscore the need for balance and awareness.

(more…)

Empathy with Scott Perry →

Published October 28, 2021  ·  All posts on Oct 28

How can individuals harness empathy, creativity, and purpose to achieve personal fulfillment and make meaningful contributions to others?

Empathy becomes a transformative practice when it evolves from effort into compassionate action.

Empathy is really hard. It requires a lot of effort to put your—to see, hear, and understand someone for where they are.

~ Scott Perry (9:33)

The conversation explores how authentic, engaging conversations can foster personal clarity, growth, and meaningful connections. It highlights the value of leveraging creativity and podcasting as tools for understanding oneself and one’s purpose. Insights from Akimbo courses and personal experiences underscore the importance of community and serendipity in learning.

Empathy and its connection to compassion are central themes, with a detailed discussion on how understanding others can lead to actionable support. Stoicism emerges as a guiding philosophy, offering practical wisdom for navigating life with intention and resilience. Gratitude and generosity are emphasized as foundational practices for improving one’s mindset and relationships.

(more…)

Perspective with Chris Grant →

Published October 28, 2021  ·  All posts on Oct 28  ·  

Perspective with Chris Grant

What lessons and insights can be drawn from personal experiences in Parkour and community development?

Exploring how personal growth intertwines with professional experiences in Parkour and community development.

Getting things out there, 85, 90% done, and then there maybe being a few little fixes you do, is actually harmless compared to making people wait or never getting to the end of a project.

~ Chris Grant (15:49)

The conversation explores the evolution of roles and responsibilities within the Parkour community. Chris discusses his transition from being a coach to a development manager at Parkour UK, emphasizing the value of building systems that support practitioners. He reflects on how stepping back from Parkour full-time provided him with a broader perspective and transferable skills, which he now applies to help others in the community.

The discussion also touches on practical advice for those navigating entrepreneurial endeavors in niche fields. Topics include the importance of financial stability, embracing imperfection in projects, and the benefits of setting boundaries to avoid burnout. Chris highlights the need for humility and openness to new learning opportunities, even after years of experience in a field.

(more…)

Fail miserably →

Published October 28, 2021  ·  All posts on Oct 28  ·  

You may fail miserably, or you’re gonna break through it— you’re gonna learn something new about yourself, and you’re gonna develop a new skill out of necessity that you didn’t have at the beginning of the painting. So that’s what keeps me excited about making paintings, is because I couldn’t do the same thing over and over again. I have to manufacture some sort of potential failure there.

~ Jonny Hart

slip:4a815.

Inevitable failure →

Published October 28, 2021  ·  All posts on Oct 28  ·  

It’s inevitable that you’re going to fail. If you’re not failing, then you’re definitely doing something wrong because you’re supposed to find your limits. There are parts of it that are going to suck the whole way along— that’s a perfect possibility, but you’re going to grow.

~ Adam McClellan

slip:4a807.

Options →

Published October 28, 2021  ·  All posts on Oct 28  ·  

Life does not ask what we want. It presents us with options.

~ Thomas Sowell

slip:4a628.

Restful →

Published October 28, 2021  ·  All posts on Oct 28  ·  ,

What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn’t have any doubt—it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn’t want to go anywhere else.

~ Hal Boyle

slip:4a626.

Failure →

Published October 28, 2021  ·  All posts on Oct 28

I’ve recently begun the long project of looking through my past recordings. Only in the last month or so have I been keeping notes about the conversations as I record them, and I want to go back to day-one, (January 28, 2017,) and update my notes on who, when, where— but also the themes and ideas that were discussed. (I’m not listening to everything, just going through the scattered information I already have about the recordings.) Although it’s a lot of work, it’s rewarding to see so many things organized in one centralized system! These days, ideas and connections I find in the slipbox also point me to my specific conversations.

It’s inevitable that you’re going to fail. If you’re not failing, then you’re definitely doing something wrong because you’re supposed to find your limits. There are parts of it that are going to suck the whole way along— that’s a perfect possibility, but you’re going to grow.

~ Adam McClellan

slip:4a807.

You may fail miserably, or you’re gonna break through it— you’re gonna learn something new about yourself, and you’re gonna develop a new skill out of necessity that you didn’t have at the beginning of the painting. So that’s what keeps me excited about making paintings, is because I couldn’t do the same thing over and over again. I have to manufacture some sort of potential failure there.

~ Jonny Hart

slip:4a815.

Also: Delightful connections like the two quotes above fall into my lap along the way.

ɕ

Learning with Steven Low →

Published October 27, 2021  ·  All posts on Oct 27  ·  

Learning with Steven Low

How does one balance pursuing multiple creative and physical endeavors while maintaining long-term growth and curiosity?

Practical insights into climbing, gymnastics, and writing illuminate the shared themes of persistence and adaptability.

My real goal is to get people thinking about how to apply all these different kinds of steps to their own training or injuries or whatever they are working on and be able to do things for themselves.

~ Steven Low (15:59)

This conversation weaves through the journey of pursuing physical and creative challenges, reflecting on how to balance growth and curiosity over time. Topics range from the iterative process of writing deeply informative books to the physical and mental intricacies of climbing and gymnastics. The discussion emphasizes the importance of problem-solving and adapting methods based on personal experiences and new scientific insights.

Personal anecdotes highlight the interplay of curiosity, physical limitations, and the satisfaction derived from mastering difficult tasks. The conversation touches on teaching as a vehicle for personal fulfillment, drawing parallels between activities such as rock climbing and whitewater rafting in terms of their unique ability to offer new perspectives and foster resilience.

(more…)