I often wonder how people manage the constant influx of information from the many social and professional platforms out there – when I think I’ve mastered one such, another pops up. Whilst I’m always in favour of growth versus stagnation, who do we choose to listen to? the profiles with the largest twitter followers the latest snap chat or instagram feeds? or the more snazzier profiles with the most endorsements on linked in? Is our bottom line what our Facebook friends endorse or those of us fortunate enough to have coaches, mentors or solid family support have the last say? When I first join the linked in community I remember staying up quite late just reading and absorbing the latest posts, blogs from groups, profiles and so forth – some were intriguing and interesting. However by the next day I couldn’t tell you which one influenced me or stayed in my thoughts the most.
After overcoming an acute episode of stomach acid reflux (GERD clinical term). I paid no attention to the slight nagging pain that often accompanied me late at night when trying to sleep. I continued to ignore it and got on with my day to day. This was to my detriment as it became acute and a trip to the GP was promptly required. The somatics amongst us would advocate emotional, conflictual or goodness eminates from the gut – the saying ‘gut feeling’ or ‘a good belly laugh’ rings true.
In my case when I didn’t listen or paid attention it came back and smacked me right in the face or in this case my stomach. In our increasingly digitalised and automated world of brands, high visibilty and constant cyber clutter – disguised as the ‘real deal’ – how do we determine what’s genuine and what’s not? Who do we pay attention to? I’ve deliberately held back from all of that and whilst I’m aware it may ‘hurt’ my ‘profile’ from a visibility perspective and for fear of not embracing change. Or worse still becoming a modern day dinosaur. The lesson *GERD has taught me if I don’t listen well and pay attention to what’s really important there will be no ‘me’ striving to make a difference.
*Gastroesophageal reflux disease