Breaking Tradition & Conventional Thinking

Question Everything

As I grow older I am fighting to maintain the mind of a child. The curiosity and naiveté mostly.

Anyone who has been around children might relate to the frustration of the constantly asking “Why?”

I was there once too; and now find myself filled with some regret for giving ?bull shit answers, like “because” or “that is just the way it is”, just to quiet them down.

As we age and conform to the worlds’ expectations of us, we lose the fire and inquisitive nature. After the dismissal of our questions and sharing of ideas, we begin to keep them to ourselves. Alternatively, worst yet, we stop asking altogether.

So here I am in the 40’s club… I don’t take my glasses off anymore, go to bed early, wake up early, eat meals at the same time, and conformed to most societal standards. My kids now at the age I was while I was the most rebellious, and I want to cheer them on. To not accept the status quo.

I want to challenge myself to go back and ask to more things. Why?!?!

Why do we hold onto tradition for the sake of tradition? Why do they exist in the first place?

Why do we plant grass in our front yard and not vegetables? It would be better for the planet, we could feed those who need it, teach valuable skills, improve the environment. Instead, we grow up with the idea of what a house and yard is “supposed” to look like. So we comply.

I can go on and on with questions, and you should too. Why are meetings always 1 hour? Why do we put our money into banks? Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? Why is cereal even a “breakfast” food? Why do have cake to celebrate birthdays?

You may not find answers to these questions and everyone’s answer may be different, that is okay! I do however; think everyone should ask. Moreover, maybe we should keep some traditions, and just maybe others should go. For me I will not do them simply because they have “always been done that way”!

ASSOCIATION AND TRADITION

Some traditions exist because they are connected to our senses- Sight, sounds, smell, all transport us to a place in our mind. They take us to somewhere we have been. The brain processes the pain or pleasure that occurred as a result.

If you take the question from above: Why do we have cake to celebrate birthdays? This could be an example of tradition kept based on senses. At an early age, we begin to associate cake with birthdays. Why? Cake is full of sugar. People sing in a happy tune, gifts are given/received.

All of these acts brings joy, therefore, is repeated. Yet how many people have slowed down and asked why we do it? There are many traditions like this where we have created an idea in our head triggering how we should feel when the act is occurring. Personally, I do not want to be told when I should be having fun or exhibiting joy.

The good news is most of this takes place in our subconscious brain, and you can retrain, or disassociate an act with the emotions it evokes in you.

END USER

Whose opinion matters the most??You got it. It is not yours! It is the consumer (your customer, child, and associate, anyone other than you). It is the person that utilizes the product, system, or device.

Get close to those people and listen. Do not impart your beliefs or feelings onto them.Ask questions, don’t assume. Drop the Ego, if it is not yours or for you, let it go.

TRADITIONAL LEARNING

The education system was built around memorization, not understanding. It is standardized, not individualized. Only more tradition will come from utilizing a singular method. People are to busy learning how to "fit in" at this stage. Comparison and Unison takes hold!

CREATIVITY

I believe we all enter this world creative and we lose it as we age. We start with wild imagination and the ability to daydream. Along the way we begin to filter our creativity; we become aware of others & apply outcomes to our actions. Our ideas diminish as the brain protects us from undesirable results.?If you can remove the filter, you can maintain your creativity.

UNLEARNING

School, society, & social norms have trained us to:

- Ask permission, not to take action

- Ask questions, not figure things out

- Learn before doing, not by doing

EXPERT VS PRACTITIONER

Rule #1 to becoming an expert: Never stop being a student

We have fitness experts who are not fit.?We have doctors who do not practice healthy habits.?We have educators who teach subjects on business when they’ve never run a business.?All examples of “Do as I say, not as I do!”

Build your craft and you will build trust.?

JUDGEMENT

When people are free to do as they choose, they usually imitate each other.

We fear judgement more than anything else. This fear keeps up from sharing our hopes, dreams, & ideas. It prevents us from being creative. It also drives us to buy material items to "signal" our status in society, even when we can't afford it.

The best innovations our world has seen did not come from those who followed all of the rules. If you can break free from the herd, free of judgement, and tradition, you will find new answers.

Remember, it is not easy to be different or ask the tough questions.

Just keep tinkering!