Who makes change happen

[untrique]

For the past couple of years I've been paying more attention to authority, noticing how it manifests in my life and the world, and how it doesn't. I've been most interested in cultivating inner authority, something I'd never much thought about before and have sorely lacked. Paying more attention to my own authoritative, authorial voice has made me

Comments

[expanding_x_man]

A nice thoughtful post, thanks for sharing.

I guess when one begins to realize that the ball, to one degree or another, is in one's court, one begins the ascent to a form of adulthood. Or, maybe, sainthood, who knows?

I guess there are always things one can't control though, and other people is a big one. I do think one can influence them, but control is another matter altogether.

In any event, Happy Thanksgiving!

[untrique]

Hey, Max, happy thanksgiving to you, too! It's nice to have the day off and spend it eating well with family; something to be thankful for.

I agree that this learning curve is called growing up. It's been interesting to hear other people of many ages echoing the same experience lately, though. Realizing how badly we want someone else to fix it, whatever it is, and how mad some of us are (obviously or secretly) that it hasn't happened that way yet!

I read a nice piece of systems theory recently that summed it up: systems don't change until everyone participating in them realizes their own part in creating what is. That's the kind of authority (inner) I'm interested in. And, yeah, letting go of the childish attempts to control others -- that shit's for the birds!

Thanks for stopping by :)

[plaid_is_best]

I needed to have a clear moment to read your post....lots of info! I am so sorry you are having a rough work time,
but perhaps you can fix it..go over your supervisors head and find the person who can get you what you need?
or get around it another way. Sometimes we get so caught up in one way of doing things, we forget to look outside our box. When you are your own boss, you have no one else to look to for change, so I haven't had to depend on anyone else for a while( except Michele)
The astrological implications of Pluto are scary!!!! and exciting!!!!

[untrique]

Aw, thanks, Plaid! Work really is up and down, and as far as such things go, it isn't bad. Most of my battles are internal, and I see real promise for resolution, of one kind or another, in that. Your suggestions about continuing to look for solutions in new ways is well taken! One thing I'd like to get better at, actually, is depending on others; that's part of what pulled me out of self-employment and into work in a group. Interesting to find myself wanting more of that -- peers and mentors -- not less.

And yeah, about the Pluto in Capricorn stuff. We sure do live in interesting times. Good to be reminded that this can be exciting, too.

[nicejewishbutch]

Thanks for this post, A. As someone who has gone from supervisee to supervisor - and who still has one direct supervisor - I really have seen and experienced (and continue to experience) this whole cycle. It's enraging from every angle, the realization of incompetence. Somehow, it's always staggering.

What becomes really interesting (and freeing) is how we take our own power and initiative in those structures, how we wield the tools we have to shift the framework.

Definitely a conversation I'd love to have with you in December.

Love and turkey.

[untrique]

Thank you, NJB! I would also love to have that conversation with you. I have noticed that your inner executive (as I call this part of myself) is quite active, and appropriately steely when required. And yeah, I am intrigued by the opportunity to free myself, in this seemingly locked situation. It is hard to know when to hold or fold in situations like these, and I have typically done something weirdly in between (holding while folded? yech!). So I do look at this as another chance to experiment and learn. I also suspect there are avenues of possibility in this situation, which I will have missed if I stop at "disappointed."

So, December it is!

[nicejewishbutch]

This "inner executive" business gives me a good, solid chuckle. And at this point, I actually think that my "inner executive" has become my "outer executive": mellow, kind, and patient, but also extremely Alpha, and yes, steely; when required. It's interesting to notice how much of management is actually managing people, rather than the act of doing different work.

This holding or folding paradigm is another that you've aptly named. I have wrestled pretty hard to accept, change what I can, and pick which fights I'll put up my dukes for. There is no doubt that it's crazy-making, but I'm trying to cut down on how much of it I'll actually let drive me crazy.

Anyway, let's take our executives out to a "power lunch." Think Mad Men! Martinis and oysters.