A Visual a Day: June Reflections
Welcome to my monthly brain dump. Each month, I pick a verse, a quote, and a visual that have been rattling around in my head. I'll share my thoughts on how they've been messing with my perspective (in a good way, mostly) as part of my ongoing quest to grow and learn. I hope you'll find something interesting in here too.
Let's dive in shall we?
50
Visuals drawn
9
Visuals shared
2
Books read
“Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.”
—Proverbs 11:24 (NLT)
Most people tend to see this verse as primarily about money. Warren Buffet comes to mind - he's probably the most famous living example, having pledged to give away 99% of his (not inconsiderable) wealth. But even Buffet has said that giving money is easier than giving time and effort.
This got me thinking about other aspects of giving: time, effort, attention etc. I've always liked the idea of giving what you can, even if it's not much. If I can't give a lot, could I give a little?
An encouraging word, a kind smile, a hug - these are things I can give that cost me almost nothing but could mean a lot to someone else.
What does little giving look like for you?
“Compulsive avoidance of embarrassment is a form of suicide.”
—Colin Miller
As someone who actively avoids embarrassment, this quote speaks to me on a deep level.
A 2014 article by Eric Johnson really articulates this concept really well.
“...not much good will come from the safety and caution of avoiding embarrassment. Keep flinching and you risk dousing the creative fire inside you.
Bottom line for me is this: putting myself out there is risky. I'm a risk-averse person by nature, so sharing my work and thoughts to this degree is stepping wayyy out of my comfort zone.
But here's the thing: if just one person is encouraged, enlightened, or entertained by what I share, then it's all been worth it. Because that means I've left the world a little better than I found it that day.
Visual of the Month
My favourite visual this month came from a course on visual metaphors I've been taking. It illustrates the impact of putting people before projects when collaborating.
This went through a few rounds of feedback and tweaking. Honestly, sharing each version was a bit nerve-wracking (hello, fear of embarrassment), but the end result was worth it. It's a nice reminder that sometimes, you just have to put yourself out there to grow.
Funny how that ties back to our verse and quote: Giving of yourself - whether it's time, effort, or just being willing to risk looking a bit silly - often leads to unexpected gains.
Tying It All Together
This month has been about understanding the power of giving - not just in terms of money, but in all aspects of life. It's also been about overcoming the fear of embarrassment or failure that often holds us back from giving freely of ourselves.
Whether it's through small acts of kindness, sharing our thoughts and creations, or simply being present for others, we have so much to offer.
And in giving, we often find that we receive so much more in return.
Until next time.
Recommended reads
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