Photo by Niranjan _ Photographs on Unsplash
This week’s blog and podcast have been about this idea of leaving a legacy, and I’d like to tack on one last thought on the topic.
And that is that leaving a legacy suggests - at least to me - that we must become “enlightened” in some way. I’m using the term ‘enlightened’ not only in the spiritual sense, but in any context, including in our craft. There are those, for example, who understand their industry so well, who have ‘mastered’ their technical work, who are so well versed in their disciplines, that we might consider them to be enlightened in their specific domains.
To me, though, this idea of enlightenment is a fallacy.
It suggests a state that’s achieved, which in turn suggests a separation between those who are and are not enlightened. Essentially it suggests that if you do your work, one day, a switch will be flipped or you’ll enter into a state where you achieve this higher order of being and thinking. That is, suddenly, you become enlightened and remain in that state forever.
The truth isn’t quite like that.
The truth - at least in my mind - is that there is no stark separation between the Haves and Have-Nots, so to speak. The enlightened don’t exist in a separate plain, just an increased level of understanding and awareness. They’ve become able to ‘connect the dots’ better than others, but they aren’t unapproachable or beyond reproach. Our differences are, in fact, in degrees, and not in demarcated lines with them on one side and everyone else on the other.
In other words, there is no ‘us and them’, just a group of folks with ideas and perspectives all moving towards growth and development. Some are further along that path, while others may just be starting on that journey.
In addition, enlightenment tends to suggest stability - as in, once we’re enlightened, that becomes our permanent state. I know that may not be the actual case and many understand that, but the conventional, popular view seems to suggest otherwise.
But, again, there is no such stability. There is only our work and our commitment to getting better. We need to continually work towards growing and expanding our knowledge, growing and evolving as we go forward. The alternative is stasis and irrelevance.
I know this might seem like semantics, but I think understanding these nuances is important, especially for our own self-esteem. Understanding this tells us that we understand there is more to be learned from everyone around us, regardless of experience levels or of our own definitions of mastery. It tells us that we’re all on a journey, and for those who value that journey, that we are in a constant state of growth and development. That we are never in a situation of having “arrived”. That we must always maintain a sense of humility.
Otherwise, we do tend to think of the world in terms of Haves and Have-Nots. And then, the education process stops. A sense of entitlement kicks in. And that mentality breeds contempt and arrogance. It kills communities and creates elitism.
Better to go back to first principles. Enlightenment is a fallacy. We’re on a constant journey.
That’s all that matters.
