I just got a terrific article in a facilitation e-zine, Master Facilitator Journal. Observing the overwhelming amount of stuff in the (Western) world and the glut of information we have to sort through it points out that we have a choice: to assimilate or accumulate.
More than half the US population is now considered “obese,” while people are starving for renewal of “spirit” and “soul” in their lives and work. People are busier, have less time, and often feel overwhelmed, surrounded by “too much stuff” and stressed out under the growing burden of “too much information.”
Application
How do we cope with the temptation to consume ourselves into oblivion? Our proposal is simple. We suggest two things. First, that you begin replacing the habit of “accumulating” with the practice of “assimilating.” And second, that you make sure what you ingest in any form is of the highest quality possible. Let’s first quickly define these words:
Accumulate: To heap up in a mass; to pile up; to increase; to collect or bring together; to amass; as, to accumulate a sum of money.
Assimilate: To appropriate and transform or incorporate into the substance of the assimilating body; to absorb or appropriate, as nourishment; as food is assimilated and converted into organic tissue.
It goes on to say
Satisfaction comes from fully digesting and extracting the fine nutrients from what we already have, and making choices for new input based on our true values and passions, not our casual likes and vague interests.
Yes, with a side order of yes, to that.
Update: I’ve revised the link to take you direct to the page in question, and here’s who the author is:
Steve Davis, M.A., M.S., is an Facilitator’s Coach, Infoprenuer, and free-lance human, helping facilitators, organizational leaders, educators, trainers, coaches and consultants present themselves confidently, access their creativity, empower their under-performing groups, enhance their facilitation skills, and build their business online and offline. Subscribe to his free weekly ezine at www.MasterFacilitatorJournal.com. Contact him at mailto:.
Quite like that line about being a freelance human being!
