Since I posted my first CultureCraftr post on Monday, there's been a lot of repercussions in the last week of opening up my conversations to these thoughts. I began the process of sharing the identity that I hold for myself with other people, opening up vulnerably to them. and the effects are beautiful.
What are the features of that identity? What kinds of things have I been sharing? What are some of my core values?
Transparency. I do not have an identity, but an identity in progress. This week I've shared openly many times, with some unexpected people, my identity as culturecraftr. Which by definition, is an evolving identity, because it involves self-crafting. It is more of what I would call a meta-identity than an identity. Similar to taking on the identity as 'learner', rather than an identity as 'engineer' or 'artist'. I talked about culture crafting with a girl on the bus. I talked about culture crafting with the SHIFT group that I began meeting with every Wednesday, I talked about it walking through the cemetery with my friend who's name is also Conor (just with one 'n'). The impact of talking about yourself with this kind of openness is not small. Others become very open with who they are as well, and we can talk more meaningfully and transparently with one another. I especially enjoy thinking about the people who might have overheard our conversation about culture craft on the bus and all of the impacts that talking about this stuff here, there, and everywhere might have.
Inspiration. This week, I did what I was inspired to do. Most nights, I was inspired right up to 3 o'clock in the morning to be staying up, writing, thinking, drawing, crafting or coding. I also tried to speak to people from my place of inspiration, and this seems to be making a big difference, in the sense that I am no longer speaking objectively about my excitement, but speaking from within it, and people pick up on this, and get excited too. Whereas before, talking about my commitment to changing myself and our culture often felt like a chore with other people because I wasn't speaking from my energy. I am beginning to feel the excitement of the work that I am doing on myself and with other people more in my body, often feeling so energetic that I want to run, or shout, or jump! Because it is exciting to see the changes happening in my own thinking and other people's thinking! Even the smallest changes have far reaching implications, because changes in thinking (if they stick) are lasting changes, not band-aid solutions. I am having long term impacts on my own life and others. This is why I think that transforming our thinking is a major leverage point for social change. And that following our inspirations is a key part of that shift.
Spontaneity, exploration, & improvisation. Predictably, I had an extraordinarily unpredictable week. Last night, for instance, I was preparing myself for sleep at 1:30, already lying in bed, when my friend called and told me that he was coming over because he wanted to talk. So I said okay, got up, made some eggs, and proceeded to stay up with him till 3:30 becoming ridiculously well read in one evening (how to become ridiculously well read in one evening). Previously in the evening I stumbled across a live performance by the Urban Monks of the Beatles white album and had the freedom to go because I intentionally planned to leave my weekend free of plans. It's these kind of adventures that not only keep my life exciting, but also leave the space for the kind of synchronicities that I need to effectively share the improvisational lifestyle and improvisational thinking. You just can't plan this stuff. I'm a big believer in structured improvisation around an intent. To me, going into a conversation, I generally have the intent of cutting through the surface stuff to share something with each other that's really meaningful, or will have the kind of positive impact that I want to have. I never know how I'm going to do it with someone, because everyone's different, but I know that I want to, so I improvise ways to bring it to life! Sometimes the best way is to just be blunt about it, like saying 'I love those kind of conversations where you really connect with someone , you know?' Often times, the best way is just by openly revealing my own experience and the challenges that I'm facing that day or in that moment. It's the 21st century and change is the biggest constant that we have, so how can we learn to adapt quickly and creatively to the changes to bring our intents to fruition?
My brain is fading and I don't think I can close this creatively, so that's that. To be continued...
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