Saturday, November 16, 2013

Withstanding Pushback Related to New Ideas

It's natural for new ideas to be met with pushback, in a sense it's a natural process of editing, revision, and contradiction that occurs--a process that actually serves to make the idea better in the end. Yet, withstanding that pushback can be a painful and lonely process. What is one to do?

First, if an idea persists, it's likely that the idea is a good one. Hence, nurture the idea with research, trial, discussion, and promotion. Listen to the naysayers, cull the idea, and grow it with effect. Don't lose hope, beat yourself up, or become angry--the truth is that all good ideas go through a process of resistance, and all good ideas end up rising to the top eventually.

Hence, dance the dance of new ideas rather than meeting an idea's natural journey with combat. Expect naysayers, criticism, and loneliness as that's part of the new idea journey. Don't get angry at those who resist you, instead look for any nuggets of wisdom in their negativity and glimpses of support in their retort, then move on and/or away. Seek out others who love the idea as you do. Be critical often of the new idea yourself making sure that the new idea has integrity and will, and as the Constitution of the Iroquois Nation promoted, "Look and listen for the welfare of the whole people and have always in view not only the present but also the coming generations, even those whose faces are yet beneath the surface of the ground--the unborn of the future Nation." Also, be aware of the role you play in others' new ideas with positive debate, discussion, and collaboration.

As a lover of new ideas and the promise ideas hold for better lives and a better world, only now am I really beginning to understand that ideas take on a life and journey, and understanding that path well helps one to nurture, navigate, and promote ideas that matter and contribute to positive growth and change.