Everyone is valuable…
Jun 2nd, 2010 by ljkim
…Is what Ken Robinson doesn’t say, but implies all throughout his two TED talks. Whereas our current-world’s thinking is: if you’re rich or famous or accomplished or beautiful you have value… I believe that EVERY person has an inherent and unique value and purpose. And part of our jobs here is to help find that and bring that out for one another! To help one another flourish… How do we do that?
Robinson is an educator, so he’s looking at how schools can help people flourish. But I’m thinking about the rest of our lives outside schools – because if what he says is true, then schools are only a small part of a person’s journey to developing one’s unique gifts. Also, because I’ve been pointing out that extraordinary people ALWAYS come from either extraordinary circumstances (usually enormous pain and suffering) or extraordinary communities…
So how can we help one another flourish? First, we have to get past the me-first attitude… You can help someone else flourish better than you can help yourself. You’ll see why when you see 2-4. But if you’re so introspective and self-involved that all you can do is focus on how to improve yourself – you’ll never flourish. You need someone else to come help you flourish.
Second, growth often requires pruning. Plants need to have things ripped off of them sometimes in order to truly grow. You can’t help someone grow unless you’re close enough to challenge them – and then actually do the job of challenging things that need to go in their lives. The act of nurturing isn’t all nice and sweet, it requires a kind of conflict that only friends can provide. That’s why the proverb says, “faithful are the wounds of a friend…profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”
Third – honest praise. People grow through honest praise. And one more: A non-controlling, non-judgmental presence. Letting people be themselves and discover themselves…
A BIG part of CF is creating this non-controlling non-judgmental community… Purposely not elevating education or culture or money or lifestyle – but honoring our individuality and looking for ways to help each person flourish.
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