It has been said, and reiterated here, that “when you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you.” But the unpleasant truth is that, sometimes they don’t. What does this mean? Why would I affirm a hundred year old lie on the internet?
It needs to be understood that all things are relative, and none absolute. There is no pure light, because without shadow, there is no vision. There is no perfect darkness because even the dimmest eye emits light of its own. Therefore if you want to experience the best of your fellows, you’re going to encounter some opposition.
We’ve all been there. We’re in to it. We’re stoked. We’re in the zone. We’re grooving. And someone in the crowd, or across the desk in the open plan office doesn’t like it. You can see it in their expression, and you can feel it in their criticism. This can be derailing, though it would be better to move forward. How do you move ahead of it?
I don’t know. I’m actually just asking here. Does anybody know? How do you overcome the nay sayers when they are often the key choosers and decision makers? How can you get them to share your vision when their eyes seem shut tight to your enthusiasm?
I want to break through and find the portal to the happy community that we see glimmers of in our collective fantasies.
My hypothesis is that you can look beyond the objections to find the evidence that you’re on the right path. When you’re on to something good, and know humans are in a sure competition for resources and survival, a bit of resistance means you’re moving in the right direction. There is a game called push-pull. You push a little, and when you stop pushing you create a sort of pull by removing resistance. You don’t want to push too hard or you can more easily be pulled by surprise. And if you stop pushing, you get pushed. The resistance we feel from others might be a sign that we are a something of a threat, and that’s not a bad thing. It means you’re on your way to contending for something worthwhile.
Sometimes we get pushed and we want to let go. We don’t like being resisted. But, maybe, the secret is pushing back a little, and actually, yeah, to “keep on smiling” through it. It’s a game. Games are a little competitive but they can be fun. I’m not talking shoot-stab here; that’s not a good game. It’s push-pull. Nobody gets hurt but everybody gets stronger. Get it?
