Conscious Competence
The more I’ve reflected in regard to this topic the more my eyes have been opened. When preparing for our group presentation I had the task of getting something for the class to sample. I went to an Asian Market in Salt Lake City looking for the right authentic Chinese snack. Since the market wasn’t specifically a Chinese market I wasn’t sure what they would have. At first I was worried that upon asking for someone to point me in the direction they might not speak English. I gave it some additional thought and figured it best to assume that they did until proven otherwise. I tried to exercise conscious competence, it was still frustrating to know that in many regards I’m a long way away from unconscious competence.
I’m glad to be on the path of awareness, if I can strive to put myself in situations that make me grow and develop I hope to enter into more of an unconscious competence. I realize this doesn’t just happen, it takes great effort. That’s one of the major takeaways of this class and something that I hope to do on a larger scale. I think this marks the start of a new experience, rooted in compassion and sympathy. The participation in a more proactive approach to taking advantage of the opportunity I’ve been given to make a difference in the world. I think Shakespeare’s As You Like It has a great monologue that I’ve reflected upon.
“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms; And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice, In fair round belly with good capon lin’d, With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, Full of wise saws and modern instances; And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon, With spectacles on nose and pouch on side; His youthful hose, well sav’d, a world too wide For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion; Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.”
As an actor on this stage I wonder what my story will be. Will I be a contributor to the greater good and help humanity? Or will I get wrapped up in the ordinary routine of mediocrity? As I was studying the other day I came upon this post and thought it was very telling.
Ten Rules for Being Human
by Cherie Carter-Scott
| 1. | You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it’s yours to keep for the entire period. |
| 2. | You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, “life.” |
| 3. | There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The “failed” experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately “work.” |
| 4. | Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson. |
| 5. | Learning lessons does not end. There’s no part of life that doesn’t contain its lessons. If you’re alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned. |
| 6. | “There” is no better a place than “here.” When your “there” has become a “here”, you will simply obtain another “there” that will again look better than “here.” |
| 7. | Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself. |
| 8. | What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours. |
| 9. | Your answers lie within you. The answers to life’s questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust. |
| 10. | You will forget all this. |
I consider this course a lesson learned, something that’s now been instilled in me. It’s now up to me to respond, to act, to make a change for the better and to listen for the next opportunity to make a connection and to display compassion.
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