The Edge of New Ideas

Most of what we think we have thought before - they are old ideas. Some are incredibly old. Old ideas have extremely staying power. The don't go away easy,  and they can drive our actions.  For instance, I have an old idea that "I don't fit in." No one ever told me this it was just something I picked up while I was growing up. Subconsciously, this old idea has caused me all kinds of trouble and I have done all kinds of crazy things to overcome it.

When I became a husband and father there was no longer any question as to where I fit in. This little family that I built became the centre of a world that I was an integral part of. So the old idea that "I don't fit" was turned on its head with the new idea - "I am an important part of something."

When I describe myself today I say I am a "father of three and a misfit". When you shine light on lies they lose their power. Today being a misfit has become an ironic source of identity not a source of shame as it was for most of my life.

Old ideas affect the way I treat myself and the way I treat the other Humans. The word resentment literally means to re-feel. We can re-feel the same negative feelings about something or someone long after the circumstances that caused those feelings have passed. These negative feelings thrive on darkness and die in the light.

One of the comments I received over the holidays talked about Facebook and how it is more like "Falseface Book" because we post the image we want people to see. Here on "Notes from the Edge" I have tried to put my real Face out there in the hopes that people who can relate to me will be able to shine light on the lies they tell themselves as well.

My true face

As we move into 2013, a brand new year full of potential for brand new ideas,  what are some of the old ideas you'd like to let go of?

And what are the new ideas we can put in their place?

Respectfully from the Edge

Check out my Signature site: The Edge on Strategy