Let cars out at junctions!

AKA being vulnerable with strangers helped me see that small positive actions are part of my reason for being

I’m overstimulated. I’m on an online writing training programme and feeling energised but concerned I may not belong.  I come to each assignment with motivation and inspiration, our awesome tutor David shares tips and frameworks that make sense.  I get instantly transported into a private room with two random members of the cohort a few times each session.  I’ve felt an affinity with everyone I’ve met so far.  I read their work, I LOVE it and it inspires me but I also get scared.  They sound cleverer than me, more insightful, more lyrical and I have to fight against myself.

We were asked to brainstorm 3 things we love and 3 things we love to rant about. You only have a few minutes which eliminates procrastination and you just have to go for it.  We were then asked to look back at those 6 items and consider where we may have an essay idea with a clear Call To Action (CTA).

I decided to be brave and jumped in to talking to Anna and Andrew about what I'd written and what my instinctive essay idea was;

1. Spreading positivity - CTA find 10 things tomorrow to spread positivity.

2. Tech for good

3. Sci-fi
   

1. People moaning and being negative but not actually trying to change things

2. Misogyny - if you wanted to be an active ally what would you do differently tomorrow?

3. People who have an opinion on things that don’t affect them, but feel strongly enough about they endanger others (e.g. trans rights and gender affirming care, abortion etc)

My instinctive top idea was to spread positivity so I definitely couldn't pick an essay topic to rant about, as that would be hypocritical!  My second observation was that my call to action sounded very cliched and non-specific, ‘do 10 positive things tomorrow’.  I found it so helpful and inspirational to be vulnerable and open with these strangers, they really helped clarify and I can now see why a core part of this programme is the thinking that WRITING IS SOCIAL.  They helped me explore what I was thinking and gave me confidence to simplify down to one example, which in turn gave a bolder and more specific call to action.

How does this relate to my wider objective, what lesson have I learned?

When I consider the biggest problems in the world, in the context of my ikigai journey “WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS”, I care deeply about understanding why negativity, hate and division can spread so easily.  I want to find a way to be kinder, inclusive and more positive.  It can be daunting to consider big problems, but it helps to break them down and consider whether there are multiple smaller actions that can take us a tiny bit closer to change. Small steps really matter.

I got great feedback.  I was encouraged to explore.  I was given a way through my instinct that made sense and was snappier, don’t water down your actual message with cliche.  You want your corner of the world to be more positive, well take small concrete steps to make that happen rather than solely shooting for the moon.

Talking through your ideas and fears with a peer group is both scary and a practical way to move forward.

So I come to articulate my call to action for this assignment.

I riffed with my cohort about the fact that each morning on my drive in to work, I make it a point to let at least one person out of a junction they are stuck at. I see them, I slow down, I flash my lights and give them space to merge in.  I love to see the blinking lights flashed in return to say thank you, and often you see them pay it forward at the next opportunity.

If you are struggling to understand how you can make a compounding difference in your corner of the world to combat negativity, well tomorrow make it a point to let someone out.  Do it every day.  Try to make it a habit and spread smiles in your corner of the world.