We are explorers. Our earliest experiences as young children are exploring what is around us, learning how the world works. We are fearless, and eager to learn by trying.
Explorers set out on a journey without having been there before, without really knowing what challenges they will face. They prepare, they learn as much as they can about the conditions along the way, but there is nothing quite like going yourself.
As we get older, we grow comfortable. We attach ourselves to particular people and places, to habits and ways of doing things, to ideas and beliefs. We commit ourselves to what we have been taught, and we become less interested in learning by trying new things. We become settled; less willing to explore new territory. We cling to what we have.
I work with people who have invested themselves in specific ways of living. They have educated themselves and learned lessons about how life works. They trust and defend the answers they have chosen.
Some have been recognized as leaders, and have clear ideas about what leaders do.
Some participate in businesses and organizations, and have learned to navigate the challenges and obstacles of organizational life. They have clear ideas about how to be effective.
Some have spent years learning about their faith and spirituality. They have clear ideas about how to understand the presence of the sacred in their lives.
People come to me with questions. They want me to answer their questions and explain things to them.
Together, we remember what it means to explore. We explore their stories, rediscover what they are seeking, and set out on the next part of the adventure. We face the challenges together.
What are you willing to try next?
What would you like to explore today?
[Image by Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the BPL]
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