GROUND ZERO 0.2: SHARPENED, NOT SHELTERED
Firstly, it was an absolute pleasure and privilege to navigate the discussion at Ground Zero. It was a challenge and a welcome change to the ‘normal’ discussions I had been having outside of The Cave. It inspired me to attempt to apply the principles we had spoken about to my everyday life.
To revisit the core philosophy that I tried to communicate through the topic:
"Sharpened, not sheltered" can be seen as a philosophy or a mindset that values continuous improvement, embracing challenges, and actively seeking growth. It's about being proactive in the face of adversity, rather than seeking a place of safety or comfort. It also refers to the pursuit of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. It's about exploring the fundamental questions of existence, ethics, and knowledge. In essence, "sharpened, not sheltered" advocates for a way of thinking that is both dynamic and engaged with the world. It's a philosophy that embraces critical thinking, challenges existing beliefs, and seeks to understand the world in a more nuanced and informed way.
Applying the above mentioned seems to be a daunting task, but it can be summarised in a single word: ‘Change’.
We need to not just be ready for change, but actively create it. When we start embracing the continuity of change and accepting that the person who we are right now; the mindset we have right now; the problems we are facing right now; the pain we are experiencing right now and the joy we are feeling right now; will change, we can start creating the future.
To use a knife analogy again: We are constantly ‘honing our blades’ when we are open to change. We can gently adjust our ‘rough edges’ before they start to tear into us and thankfully - before we need to ‘sharpen’ our blades by shaving off some of the steel. The last of the three options I proposed during the discussion was to return the knife to the forge – which seems extreme after the self-reflection (but necessary to maintain, as some changes we’ve experienced or will still go through, might require this).
In conclusion, I will continue on my quest for personal growth by consciously creating change around me. I will take more time to self-reflect on how I have changed (in all aspects of life) so that I can start focusing more on what the next change should look like. Most importantly, I will take note of who/what hones/sharpens me and ensure that I’m exposed to the right kind of friction to keep my ‘blade’ battle ground ready!
- Arno Noordman