Today, these words are given by the ever generous Seth Godin.
His guest post is titled “Why is it So Difficult to Be Human?” and it was written just for you. I think he shares a very profound question that many of us have asked on this blog before.
He also contributed on many other blogs today, of which you can find a list here.
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Why is it so difficult to be human?
What does it mean to be human anyway?
A key part of being a real person – a human being – is showing up, especially when it’s difficult, particularly when it’s frightening to do so.
Showing up counts for a lot. Why? Because it’s scarce.
Someone who will comfort you on the phone in the middle of the night, then throw on a bathrobe and drive to your house. That’s precious.
Someone who tells you the truth.
Someone who exposes herself, is present, connected and willing to let you hurt them.
These are the things we seek out as people, and yet we rarely find them. And yet we are rarely willing to be this person.
We built institutions, organizations and religions to make it easy to avoid being this person. The rules and principles and jobs and buildings and code words and admonitions… they all exist to protect us from the truths we’re afraid of and from the interactions we’d rather not have.
They organize us, and organization is a wonderful way to be protected.
We go to work and we hide. We hide behind the religion of our brand or our team or our Dunder-Mifflin employee manual. We go to a foreign country and we play tourist, because actually going there is too difficult, too risky, to exposed.
Showing up counts for a lot.
When we show up, we connect, we make change, we are transparent, and yes, we’re human.
Caring hurts sometimes, and that’s inconvenient.
The good news is that more than ever, value accrues to those that show up, those that make a difference, those that do work that matters.
The good news is that digging deep and fighting that voice that begs us to shut up instead of show up really pays off now, in more ways than we can count.
Faith in yourself, in your friends, in your colleagues and most of all, faith in your ability to impact our future is the best strategy I know.
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Seth Godin’s new book LINCHPIN comes out today. It’s about art and gifts and connection and making a difference. And you should really read it because it’s really great.
And also, you should get a few of his other books if you haven’t yet. Three of my favorites are Purple Cow, The Dip, and Tribes. All three of those have shaped my perspective and execution of how and why and when I do what I do. You won’t be disappointed!
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Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company or identity who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Powerful and painfully true.
The difference between “Religion” and “Relationship”.
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LOVED this!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!
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Amazingly stated…no surprise. No one should lose the human face and voice…don’t take it for granted…better yet, find a way to help others be human, too!
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Wow. Love it. Thanks Anne for getting that hook up. A great reminder even today.
I’m in a deadend job, I really need to take some advice and get some small business going! =) I need to find a niche small company of some sort.
Excellent, Anne. Love the depth of humanity Seth explores here and how you give him an open forum to share his heart. I’ve also been enjoying Linchpin and am loving reading all these posts on his blog tour.
Jeff Goins´s last blog ..Interview with Seth Godin: Artists, Linchpins, and Following the Rules
Always true to his perspective albeit a secular one. What I try to teach my children; the importance of caring and showing up. It’s sad how rare those commodities are in the world today. Regardless of one’s belief system we will be a poorer society if we do not hold on to the value of showing up and being a real caring person.
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Great words.
Can’t wait to read his new book.
I think I just drooled on my desk.
This was epic and I loved it and you rock.
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That was so rich. Thanks Anne… got a sitter, see you tonight!
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How true. Just thinking about this very thing this week. We so often passify ourselves by thinking that a hand-out and a prayer are enough as long as it doesn’t interfere with my life. I am reminded of what my youngest daughter said to me the other day. (We adopted her and my middle daughter from Ethiopia 2 years ago.) “Mommy, I’m so glad you came to get me. If you wouldn’t have I would be dead now.” Good reminder that there is more than my own life to think about. There are real people with real needs that really need someone to become involved in their lives.
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~”We hide behind the religion of our brand or our team or our Dunder-Mifflin employee manual.”~ yes yes yes… thank you Seth for putting this truth out there and thank you Anne for surrendering your pulpit, so to speak, so that i could be reminded to “move out from behind” all the stuff.
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Ok, let me just say what all the commenters seem to be avoiding: HOW COOL that Seth Godin posted on your blog!!
Now that I got that out of my system, I am drawn to the content of what he says at the end:
– “Faith in yourself, in your friends, in your colleagues and most of all, faith in your ability to impact our future is the best strategy I know.”
I would only want to add that our “strategy” of presence and caring will be most effective if we follow in the way of the incarnate one, who showed up in the most powerful way imaginable, emptying himself and becoming nothing for us.
Faith is better placed in Jesus – to find the way toward a true life of self-giving … the kind of authentic humanity Seth points to so well in this post.
Thanks for the great conversation always -
Peace
Wayne
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It’s so simple and sometimes so hard at the same time.
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Its amazing the difference showing up can make for people. They know you really care, because you cared enough to be there.
Also a painful reminder of a missions trip I took to Belize years ago. During the 10 days I became very close to one of the natives there. After about 6 days he became bothered about something. It turned out he was upset that I was going to be leaving.
People came and people went, and he was angry that he got close to folks, who then left. I felt so guilty about that for a long time. Did he really feel that way? Was he jerking me around? Who knows? But I finally got to the point where I accepted that I can only do what I can do.
Being human is about embracing the light “and” the dark of our many selves. Showing up is a crucial part of impacting the world. Why don’t more people? Self perception & how they see themselves. Situations don’t make a person, they reveal a person (Wayne Dyer) but more importantly it reveals how we “really” see ourselves. This is a pretty good starting point to change I believe. Love Seth’s thinking, more so let’s discover how we can inspire more people to take that action.
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It’s wonderful to see Seth here, Anne. I actually mentioned something about “showing up” today on my blog. How fitting. :)
To Seth: Thank you for all your posts today. This is insane. I love it… I love the example you give for being remarkable.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
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So true…Caring hurts!!
Anne, stay a Linchpin. And keep writing!
(For Anne’s readers – she is held up as an example of a Linchpin in Seth’s book. Crazy cool. This is a must read if you’re interested in making a difference in the world through your gifts and art.)
Hello
Exciting material that is resonating with us all – goose bumps – and the way that this book has ben marketed is phenomenal. A new era in education, business and culture is upon us! Thanks for charing this material.
Loretta: The Leaders Coach
Thanks for your great insight! This article was SO GREAT that I added it to my Wednesday Wisdoms’ post! The latest and greatest articles of the week! Check it out : http://createyourgreatlife.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/wednesday-wisdoms-2/
Thanks and have a wonderful day!
DeAnna