Sometimes, it is scary to be right

In a way, ignorance is indeed bliss. The readings of the past days point to the burden of insight that compels a person to act responsibly.

What is scarier is when our personal (but reasonable conclusion) of what is right goes against the norms of society or an organization. As social creatures, it is such a risk to take a stand separate from our peers.

It is scary to be right. It takes courage to transform insight into actions that are right.

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Luke 12:54-59. “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?”

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 294: OCTOBER 21, 2022]

The burden of insight

The insight experience is thrilling. At that precise instance when everything clicks and when we cannot help but exclaim aha or eureka or whatever catchphrase we can invent – everything seems just right at that moment.

Yet, that moment too is the moment when we start an upward spiral towards responsibility. Such is the burden of insight.

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Luke 12:39-48. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 292: OCTOBER 19, 2022]

Greed and addiction

I was listening to the Flow Research Collective Radio podcast via Spotify while I was on the way to campus this morning. The topic of the episode I listened to was about addiction, and what stood out to me was:

Addiction is a series of (painful) cravings, temporarily satisfying that craving, then adulterating the experience so much that the addict cannot anymore enjoy the experience.

In a way, greed is to material things as addiction is to experiences.

And that’s what is dangerous about greed and addiction: they seem to offer short-term pleasure but lead to long-term pain. On the other hand, to accumulate good deeds and to be virtuous is playing the long game: short-term pain and stress leading into a life of flourishing.

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Luke 12:13-21. The things you have prepared (and accumulated), to whom will they belong?

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 290: OCTOBER 17, 2022]

Silence and pauses

Is it better to stay silent than to blurt out negatives or “uninsightful” things? What if our thoughts could hurt but they also contain insight, like when we vigorously disagree with something?

When is being silent and pausing a virtue, and when is it a sin?

Maybe we can learn from music – sometimes, an instrument should rest to set the context for the most opportune moment of expression.

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Luke 12:8-12. The Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 288: OCTOBER 15, 2022]

Provocations

When playing JRPGs (Japanese role-playing games, like my favorite Suikoden II), to provoke is to entice the enemy to attack a certain ally. I initially thought that provoking should be done only to one’s enemies.

But provocations do have a power when used on teammates as well. The risk is that a teammate might feel challenged or offended, but when done right, it can engage discussions and open the floor for creativity and innovation.

Should we always have to be defensive when we encounter provocations from others? Maybe the role of organizations is to offer psychologically-safe spaces so that provocations become an instrument for refining insights instead of verbal weapons to attack the person of another.

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Luke 11:47-54. They were listening to what He was saying, hoping to catch something they may use against Him

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 286: OCTOBER 13, 2022]