heart take special: curious validity
Heart Take II ft. Caroline Neil (www.carolineneil.com) and savant lamont.
🌹
You may not ask the right question, but at least you dared to ask.
Every interaction we experience is based on a shared understanding between those present. As such, there are societal ‘norms’ and ‘rules’ that dictate the social space...even though all of those ‘rules’ and regulations remain unspoken. They develop over time and as operating members in society, we are socialized into thinking that the norm is the only way to go about our everyday lives and social spaces. In some ways, this hegemony can be constricting...but all hope is never lost. We can adapt. Once we garner the confidence to brave the subjective nature of human existence, we can create a new territory of growth and proliferation. You know, that ideological field of dreams where we can interrogate our deepest thoughts with those who seek to know, to understand, and to gain wisdom. The wisdom gained in those spaces is a treasure that diamonds cannot touch...but remember, that space is one created by the genuine people that we intentionally surround ourselves with and as such, we get to decide our intentions and desired outcomes. It is amongst these grassy plains that we start to make sense of which questions to ask...and how.
The key to finding what you are looking for truly exists in sequence with preparation and proactive actions. Granted, I’ve asked my fair share of questions and I’ve been asked more than I can imagine. I have certainly hesitated to ask thousands of questions as well, usually based on fear of the response or framing of the words that enter the space. Admittedly, there are plenty of scenarios when I’ve asked the ‘wrong’ questions, missed the mark a few times (or, twelve), and experienced remorse for the result that permeated the situation. Part of me wishes I could take those questions back, remove myself from the space, and avoid the apparent ignorance. However, the growth achieved by the mistake promises that the moment was not wasted.
Oftentimes, when we find ourselves saying ‘I’m sorry’ or realizing our part in a preventable situation -- the divide rests in intentionality. We could have been more intentional in our approach, our preparation, or our composition…but, we weren’t. It’s how the cards fall sometimes, especially when we remain conscious of our humanity and inadvertent shortcomings. It will never be perfect, because humans are messy. We fall short. We slip up. We are sometimes shortsighted, which can lead to despair, but that does not make us bad people. That makes us human.
So, how do we get there...to the field?
How do we lean in to live and question intentionally?
Well, it can be somewhat of a daunting process. Like those times spent looking at the white space and blinking cursor on a blank page with no guidance of where to start. Which way is up? Which way is down?
Who knows.
Here, we highlight a golden question that plagues many people: is it harder to start or harder to finish? At this moment, it appears as if the start may be more difficult but we must find it within ourselves to take the time to pause and envision the possibilities. If we don’t take the time (or claim to not have the time) at the start, when/how will we ever have the time to make the corrections? How will we know where we are going if we have failed to take stock of where we have started? The practice of truly understanding the question you are asking takes time, reflection, clarity...and silence. That precious time is more than most are willing to sacrifice, especially when we live in a society that is fast-paced and information-driven. The fear of missing out hangs over us like a never-ending cloud that blocks our ability to truly shine in the present. Stay put. This too shall pass, if you let it.
It takes courage to slow down and truly understand what is happening around us. More poignantly, intentionality is the key to understanding the question we want to ask, why we want to ask it, and what could come of the question. Although you should never try to dictate the response, remember that people are multifaceted. The joy is in the learning process, not acquiring the ‘right’ answer. Sometimes, there is no ‘right’ answer, just a field of dreams where people can ask, respond, and learn from one another. Making the time to dive deep and let the mind unwind can bring us to a world untouched before; a beautiful field full of honest dialogue.
I have found freedom in the search; in the exploration.There is beauty on the frontier of the unknown field. Even writing this, I had no idea where the next word would lead, but I dared to find out. And, here we are. In this space, expectations have no place. I don’t want to attempt to predict how you will respond, I just want a space where we can freely ask and interrogate the deeply-buried gems that life offers. If you think about it, some of the best things to happen in our lives were not planned. Granted, they happened because we were intentional in some way, but the outcome was not the plan and there is beauty in that unknown revelation.
Let’s be intentional with our time, our development, and those that we share the most precious moments with. At the very least, the intentionality of those factors will lead us to a place far beyond our deepest imagination: the glorious field of blank spaces.
Siempre,
Savant & Caro 🌹
—
P.S. - the question now becomes, just how much did you enjoy the article and how will you show your support for our dreams? Here are a few ways to support!
1) Follow us on all social media! @savantlamont - @carolinaaneil - @hearttakepodcast
2) Tune in to our podcast, Heart Take, every Tuesday! (Spotify x Apple Podcasts)
3) Leave a little tip (Venmo: @savantlamont) so we can buy some coffee (or kombucha) and fuel the next one!
Regardless, thank you for spending a few moments with us. we do value your time and thoughts, so please do not hesitate to leave a comment and let us know what you think. we would love to hear from you!