💎 Friday Gems (Aggressively Curious, Lost in Nonsense, Long Haul Flights)
One should always be curious. Not a passive curiosity dependent upon information received, but an aggressive curiosity that compels one to seek things out and ascertain them for oneself. -Issey Miyake
Dear reader,
You may know that I have stopped using the meditation app I had been using for a long time so I am looking for replacements. Please let me know if you have any recommendations. For now I am trying out the Plum Village app which has a lot of guided meditations and talks. The first guided meditation which I tried out yesterday was recorded during the pandemic. It’s interesting to hear the teacher talk about the challenges everyone was facing, isolation, working from home, unable to meet others and so the memories from that time came rushing back and I realized just how quickly I had forgotten about those times that seem so long ago but were extremely demanding and tough for everyone. I’m grateful we were the lucky ones to get through those testing times.
We strong enough to face whatever life throws our way! ✊🏽
On to the this week’s gems!
Today's Gems
Escape the Algorithm: Get Aggressively Curious
The Mindful Designer: How to Talk to Someone Who’s Lost in Nonsense
Humor: Please Return to Your Seat | A Long Haul Flight Essay
Escape the Algorithm
Get Aggressively Curious
We’re products of our environment. Which is fine and normal, until you realize everything you’re doing is being decided for you.
We are creatures of comfort and the system knows this. As a result we are inundated with “easy” and “quick” choices, it’s how our culture operates now.
We will be shaped by culture, unless we break out of the algorithms and go against the grain.
Confuse your music app by listening to songs from other countries and genres you’ve never tried. Throw off YouTube by diving into a topic you’ve never learned about. Fake out Instagram by following people and brands far outside your usual circle. Bewilder Facebook by reading articles that oppose your typical point of view. Then, once the algorithm catches up, do it again.
Why spend a little bit more time, energy and effort engaging with your curiousity and going down rabbit holes that only matter to you?
This is how artists find their niche. It’s how new discoveries are made. It’s how people question what the world wants for and from them, and discover a universe out there waiting for them. They’re aggressively curious. They’re paying attention enough to feel compelled
Now excuse me as I go dive into the world of Gertrude Jekyll, the British horticulturist and garden designer mentioned at the beginning of the article to learn how she applied color theory in gardening, which sounds fascinating.
It’s time to get aggressively curious. :)
Source: MyMind
The Mindful Designer
How to Talk to Someone Who's Lost in Nonsense
Although this article is aimed at talking to people who believe in nonsense, and by people I mean MAGA cultist Trump supporters.
This is also a communication lesson for designers in how to prevent stakeholders from becoming defensive in conversions. People have beliefs about how things should be even if sometimes those are ill informed beliefs. When conveying our ideas to people we can lean into our curiosity to overcome pushback.
You’re not there to win.
You’re there to talk.
You’re there to be curious.
The good example given is how Jordan Klepper, of The Daily Show, interacts with people who have strongly held view but haven’t tested them.
Jordan says:
“My goal is to gain their confidence, to make them feel comfortable and talk to me like they talk to their best friend at a bar.”
Become curious instead of challenging.
Ask them to explain what they exactly mean, how does their belief work. Ask them how they believe what they believe.
Then reflect but don’t rebut.
Once they see the hole in their argument they are more likely to change their mind.
Ok, maybe this was a stretch to push this example into the design realm but I believe there is something there.
Don’t ask me how I know!
Source: The Healing Delusion
Humor
Please Return to Your Seat | A Long Haul Flight Essay
By the time I reach 40C, my overhead bin space has been taken by someone three rows ahead who brought a bag the exact dimensions of a small refrigerator. There is nothing to be done about this. We are a miniature society now, and the injustices began before takeoff.
Travel is a trauma inducing activity we must take part in because we have no other choice. We need to go from point A to point B and to do that we have to endure the almost comedic experiences along the way.
This post definitely kicked up my ptsd in a fun way but it’s comforting to know that we are all in the same boat or plane in this case and looking back all you can do is find the humor in it instead of getting upset, that is until the next time we find ourselves in a flight with awkward and comedic experiences. ✊🏽
Source: Scott Monaco
Did one of the Friday Gems resonate with you? Please consider commenting, restacking, or sharing it with a friend. This is the simplest and most generous ways to support creative work.
It only takes a moment, but it makes a real difference.❤️
That’s it for this week’s Friday Gems.
In stillness, find your next step.✊🏽
