MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Cannot schedule them, or call them up on demand – they show up when they show up. You can’t hold one in your hand, but they can surely bowl you over.
Epiphanies are not things we seek like forest dwelling-pigs, sniffing out truffles.
They do occur.
Which begs this question: why?
More importantly, how can we trigger them, how can we harness them?
It was late, indoors, no bugs in sight, when this enlightening struck me.
Was it cosmic coincidence or lucky collision of information, ideas, and timing?
Or, as Mark Twain said, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter – ‘tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning.”
For today I’ll stick to the experience, the feeling. Not a spiritual happening – as the word might imply, but a moment as robust and transient as the proverbial lightning bolt. And as magical as that lightning bug.
Epiphany –
~ a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something
~ an intuitive grasp of reality through something (such as an event) usually simple and striking
~ an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure
~ a revealing scene or moment
I don’t feel a connection, or causation – stressful times v. non-stressful times – or have any reason for being, other than this happened to me.
I understand ‘what’ in terms of noticing epiphany arrival, reflexive turmoil inside which signals a shift in my foundation of belief about something, my alertness to some learning, or a new way to see a previously invisible truth or opportunity.
One such moment happened in the last 24 hours – and I absolutely intend to follow its lesson. Was it destiny, a collision of ideas circling my like sharks ready to bite?
If what I put on paper doesn’t help, nobody cares.
In my writing, consulting work, real estate practice, and every other segment of my life, I find that compartments of ideas, projects, and learning don’t always align. I’ve been trying to reconcile some things I’ve been re-reading or re-watching lately – in how they might better fit me, and better fit the challenges of current opportunities. What adds to this confusion is when it happened.
It was 12:30AM yesterday.
After loading my weekly newsletter for publication, and I needed to be up at 5AM to finish that, and publish.
So, what was I doing watching a YouTube video for until 2:00AM?
I was tired, watching a 6 yr.-old video, a university lecture on writing, and I was riveted. I’ve watched it again, and expect I’ll be dissecting its wisdom for a long time. I found it valuable, sent the link to some writer friends, and sent a thank you note to the prof.
The question is not whether that message was right, timely, or appropriate – I have the thud to my solar-plexus to prove it. I have no idea whether that message will resonate with anyone else, but it packed a massive punch for me. I cannot wait to practice a new way of writing and to appreciate my better understanding of the message, audience, and value than I have before. As much as I think this 90 minutes of learning will transform my writing life, I absolutely know it will transform my marketing methods, and undoubtedly transform how I recognize the needs of my audience.
I got wondering, is this a one-off event, or the first in a series of stepping stones.
I don’t need or want to create anything for a reader, for an audience, that makes me better – that’s my private job, but does nothing to meet the needs or appetite of an audience. For any reader, for any audience – want to know something that will change your thinking, and when I can, that would be interesting …
I assumed I didn’t know what I was doing, but I was wrong.
Preparing for this moment has been a pregnant pause, moments and years, becoming who I am becoming so I can figure out who I’ve become.
But who cares about that?
You don’t care about the inside of my head – yet that has been the source of my writing and the content of what I’ve spilled into keystrokes. Nobody cares. Well, I care, but I don’t count. I’m not my audience – you are.
If I can help you see things more clearly, or stimulate some ideas for you, that’s interesting – but what value does that add? None.
What if I can help you be curious about the validity of what you believe – and why you believe it?
That would be interesting.
What if I could cause you to challenge your well-sorted beliefs and habits with some new thinking, a new angle to see something?
This happened.
Lightning, or enlightening, or a lightning bug?
I’m keeping my eyes open – happy to have another anytime if it feels as good as this.
Reader feedback:
Hi Mark, Favorite truth in a motivational column: There has been too much political correctness and not enough correctness . Here! Here! 👏 , SF, Lethbridge, AB