If you’ve followed any of my blog posts or listened to my podcast, you’ve probably discovered that my interests are varied. I love the power of a conversation and the ability it has to open doors to a world full of possibilities.
That being said, I realized the other day that I may be guilty of self-segregation. Segregation, or segregate, is defined as:
seg·re·gate/ˈsegriˌgāt/
verb.
1. Set apart from the rest or from each other; isolate or divide.
2. Separate or divide (people, activities or institutions) along racial, sexual or religious lines.
What do I mean when I say ‘guilty of self-segregation? I’ve noticed this about myself lately: I’m spending more time in conversations with people who share the same opinion I do. Now let me be clear, there is nothing wrong with being around those who share a similar story or a similar point of view. It’s comfortable and it’s easy … and sometimes, we need comfortable and easy!
Through conversations, life happens and finds meaning
The challenge and the opportunity, at least for me, lies in making sure I keep an open mind to world around me. I want to explore and understand what motivates those around me. I can certainly do that with people who share the same story, opinion or point of view I have but most of it seem predictable.
I want a broader perspective.
I want to know the whole story.
I want to be challenged and uncomfortable.
I want to explore possibilities.
When I self-segregate I miss out on what the world has to offer me and, conversely, it’s missing out on what I can offer.
This is the challenge and the opportunity we all have – to be open to the possibilities.
Don’t isolate yourself too much. Be open to the next conversation … it may be unexpected, but in the end it could change your life!
