Lost in the obscuring confusion of our thoughts

Few things cause more emotional distress than the thoughts we think. 

In fact, the guilt we have about those thoughts can be even more damaging than the thoughts themselves. As if our mind was the most ruthless prosecutor in the world, and unless we have a strong and robust defense team, it will make its case and defeat us every time. 

If the glove fits, you must submit. 

Buddhists call this state samsara, in which we are bound in an endless chain of confusion, and our entanglement with each thought enslaves us and we suffer in a vicious cycle of misery. 

It’s not a pretty picture. 

Rinpoche writes about this very issue, how we should not reject our thoughts and feelings, since they are all valid; but also, how our thoughts and feelings can cause us problems if we cling to them as if they were fixed and unchanging. 

Perhaps each of us could benefit from this sense of detached acceptance. 



LET ME ASK YA THIS…

Do all the thoughts in your head get along with each other? 

* * * *

Scott Ginsberg

That Guy with the Nametag

Author. Speaker. Strategist. Inventor. Filmmaker. Publisher. Songwriter.  

[email protected]

www.nametagscott.com

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Carried along on an initiatory tide

Campbell said that along our hero’s journey, each of us must give up the life we planned in order to have the life that is waiting for us. 

This is a romantic and inspiring notion, but it’s also a daunting and difficult task. 

Ask anyone who went to an out of state college. There’s a part of us that knows staying at home, while cheaper and painless and in the short term, ultimately requires more sacrifices than leaving. 

Euryphaessa explores this in her memoir of unintentional pilgrimage, something she called running into herself. She believes that leaving home constellates an initiation, a separation from the norm, a break in the routine. Like it or not, we are being carried along on an initiatory tide. We either ride it out, or thrash against the situation and drown. 

Indeed, we must flee the nest and take ourselves out to our own flight. Not to demonize our roots either. Just because we move across the country doesn’t mean our native soil was some cold, fallow atmosphere in which we would have shriveled and grown small. 

We always praise and grieve the land in which we sprouted. 

But we also dream to plunge our hands into new earth and adopt a higher set of values around which to build the next chapter of our ever evolving lives. 

To create a home, whatever and wherever it might be, as a specifically nurturing habitat for the needs of your unique organism. 

LET ME ASK YA THIS…

Are you ready to reach for the next way station on your journey?



* * * *

Scott Ginsberg

That Guy with the Nametag

Author. Speaker. Strategist. Inventor. Filmmaker. Publisher. Songwriter.  

[email protected]

www.nametagscott.com

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Hunting down the one big prize that will finally free us

Consider this frequently quoted scripture:

Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for the bread which endures to everlasting life. 

Religious disciples interpret this passage as a reminder that this world is only given to us to prepare for the hereafter. That all our longings for the meat, all our ambitions for that which is so vapid and unproductive, hold not a candle to the glory that awaits us in the next life. 

Even if, for fleeting moment, we hold this treasure in the palms of our hands, it will still disappear faster than a fart in the wind. 

My interpretation of this scripture is one that is much more agnostic, practical and artistic. 

Because in my experience, when we labor not for the meat which perishes, it means that we choose not to spend our days hunting down the one big prize that will finally free us. 

It means that we finally let go of our addiction and attachment to results, and surrender to the joy of the process itself. 

To me, that’s the bread which endures to everlasting life. The bread which never grows stale, has no expiration date and contains all the nourishment we could ever hope for. 

Camus famously wrote that some people work in their time without hope of true reward, while others work courageously for their own personal eternity. 

If you find yourself in the latter category, I would invite you to consider that you have made the wrong existential investment. 

There are more meaningful pursuits than making sure people know your name, recognize your uniqueness and praise your greatness. 

LET ME ASK YA THIS…

Are you still laboring for the meat which perishes?


* * * *

Scott Ginsberg

That Guy with the Nametag

Author. Speaker. Strategist. Inventor. Filmmaker. Publisher. Songwriter.  

[email protected]

www.nametagscott.com

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Fascinating and luxurious prospects will open up before you

Once we identify our talents learn how to use our talents properly, we can start beautifying and contributing to the world in ways that nobody else can. 

It’s the stuff real fulfillment is made of. The satisfaction of knowing that our gifts contributed to a larger effort, few things make us sleep better at night. 

But having a clear sense of our own capacities and desires and how they integrate into the world is only part of the equation. Creating value is one thing, but creating the occasion to create value is another. 

Which means we have to say yes. We have to incline ourselves toward accepting opportunities rather than rejecting them. Erring on the side of opening doors instead of closing them. Availing ourselves to whatever fascinating and luxurious prospects open up before us. 

Otherwise our talents will always be winking in the dark. 

All of this is a form of optimism. A practice of curiosity and openness and trust. It’s a willingness to say yes to life, even though we know it will devour us, even though the cynic in us mistrusts every experience. 

We almost have to think ourselves:

Who cares if we’re grossly unqualified for the position? Who cares if it results in tasks that are outside of our skill set? Who cares if it’s the last thing we ever thought we’d be doing? Who cares if the opportunity falls short of our wildest dreams? 

Say yes anyway. 

Because our special talent that is unique and necessary to the whole of humanity, it needs an outlet and a vehicle and canvas to be realized in the world.  



LET ME ASK YA THIS…

Is your cynicism preventing you from making full use of your talents and abilities?


* * * *

Scott Ginsberg

That Guy with the Nametag

Author. Speaker. Strategist. Inventor. Filmmaker. Publisher. Songwriter.  

[email protected]

www.nametagscott.com

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Soothing the flow of chaotic energy in our bodies

My favorite definition of anxiety is the following:

Emptiness and disconnection from self and other. 

It’s when we forget that we actually do have a calm center, that peace is always a possibility, and that those things can be accessed both individually and interpersonally, anytime we want. 

But when we notice that we’re anxious, we don’t immediately make a sufficient effort to change our situation, do we? Most people don’t. They never learned, practiced and mastered healthy ways to soothe the flow of chaotic energy in their bodies. 

And as a result, here’s what happens. 

Instead of making a concerted effort to bring greater relaxation into their lives, they ignore their feelings. 

Instead of alerting their bodies to the fact that they wish to be calmer, they simply grind through it. 

Instead of integrating mindfulness into the chaos, they resign to the precarious equilibrium between tensions, as opposed to a static calm.

Instead of calling a close friend, stating their emotional needs and sharing their true feelings, they isolate and numb themselves with unhealthy and unsustainable external emotional regulators like and entire box of pumpkin spice scones. Been there before.

Does that sound like the kind of person whose inner calm we can feel? 

It sounds more like someone whose default approach is to create drama and stress. Someone who isn’t healthy, isn’t fulfilled, isn’t pleasant to be around, and isn’t making the kind of contribution to this world that they know they can. 

A friend of mine loves to say that if you’re aware of it, you’ve already highlighted it for deletion. 

Which is an inspiring notion, and our mental wellbeing requires that we take further action as well. 

When the thief of anxiety sneaks in through the back door of our brains and attempts to steal our peace, let us make a sufficient effort to change our situation. 

Let us reconnect to self and other. 

LET ME ASK YA THIS…

Are you giving the world the precious gift of a peaceful presence

* * * *

Scott Ginsberg

That Guy with the Nametag

Author. Speaker. Strategist. Inventor. Filmmaker. Publisher. Songwriter.  

[email protected]

www.nametagscott.com

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The greatest hits from our negative self talk catalogue

Gottman’s pioneering research identified contempt as the most serious of the four horsemen of the divorce apocalypse. 

He calls it the most destructive and biggest predictor of separation. 

But what about the relationship with ourselves? Because whether we’re coupled up or not, that’s the one person we still have to sleep with every night. Therefore, we must also be careful about the production of contempt in ourselves. 

From mocking to name calling to hostile humor to sneering in disgust at our own behaviors, each of these expressions slowly chips away at the fondness we have for ourselves. And if our goal is to build an internal culture of appreciation, to lower our tolerance for contemptuous statements and behaviors towards our actions, then it’s time we relate to ourselves with the same compassion and acceptance. 

Injuries are the example that comes to mind. They always help me come to an awareness of my own capacity for contempt. Because whether it’s a pulled muscle, a corneal infection, an allergy attack or a tendentious flare, my instinct is to roll my eyes at myself and start in on the naming calling. 

You’re so clumsy, you can’t even go dancing without hurting yourself. You’re so incompetent, you can’t even clean your contacts properly and now you have to go see optometrist. You’re so over achieving, you can’t even take a day off from exercising and now you’re at the pharmacy getting a prescription for muscle relaxers. 

Those are the greatest hits from my negative self talk catalogue. What are yours? 

Consider making a list today. Because once we become aware of our contempt for ourselves, we have already highlighted it for deletion. 

LET ME ASK YA THIS…

How will you reduce, repair and eliminate contemptuous exchanges with yourself?

* * * *

Scott Ginsberg

That Guy with the Nametag

Author. Speaker. Strategist. Inventor. Filmmaker. Publisher. Songwriter.  

[email protected]

www.nametagscott.com

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Dancing in the darkness until the spotlight of attention finds you

Hollywood acting coaches know the audition process is grueling, lengthy and demoralizing. 

But they still encourage their clients to experience it. Not because it’s another chance to get rejected by complete strangers who wouldn’t know talent if it sat on their faces, but because auditions are a moment to act. An opportunity to perform your art and practice your craft in front of a captive audience. 

Even if only for thirty seconds, it’s still stage time. That’s still an output of emotional labor. An occasion to increase your existential strength by articulating your values and principles and life purposes. 

And who knows? Maybe that audition results in a holy shit moment that kicks open the door to future work opportunities. Or maybe the casting director rudely interrupts the actor in the middle of their tearful monologue and says, thanks, we’ll be in touch. 

Point being, auditioning is a part of life. Whether it’s a casting call or first date or job interview or meeting your girlfriend’s family for the first time, there are only two things within your control. 

Intention and attention. 

How you talk to yourself before you walk in the room, and how you channel your energy when you’re in it. The rest is in the hands of the gods. 

Use the audition as a moment to act. Leverage something inside of you to create a position of power. Enjoy dancing in the darkness until the spotlight of attention finally finds you.

And trust that the bravery of your value creation will be rewarded.  


LET ME ASK YA THIS…

Will you take people up on the chance to be seen for the hard work that only you can do?



* * * *

Scott Ginsberg

That Guy with the Nametag

Author. Speaker. Strategist. Inventor. Filmmaker. Publisher. Songwriter.  

[email protected]

www.nametagscott.com

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By watering them with fresh evil actions

For many years, life was about the relentless, focused effort on my career to the exclusion of everything else. 

This was a highly useful strategy for growing my business and making an impact on the world. 

But when it came to cultivating intimacy and community, not so much. That’s the danger with working all the time. Or doing any one thing all the time. We have all this energy and availability for our clients, coworkers or whatever other professional mouths we need to feed, while the rest of the people in our lives are left with crumbs. Emotional leftovers. The remains of the day that trickle down our collar. 

It’s especially insidious if we travel for work. Because for those few times that we are home, we feel like a visitor in our own town. It’s like we’re stationed there until the next gig comes along. 

And because of that, we miss out on the leisure to carefully nurture our casual acquaintances into enduring relationships and eventually reliable communities. 

Which, ironically, is the thing that could actually sustain our business over the long haul. 

The point is, what we regret most in our life are not failures of commerce, but failures of connection. Camus once wrote that the entire population scrapes the soil in search of roots, and it’s never been truer. 

We must not let our antisocial tendencies to sprout by watering them with fresh evil actions. 


LET ME ASK YA THIS…

What good is being talented, successful and intelligent if we cannot not form healthy bonds with others? 

* * * *

Scott Ginsberg

That Guy with the Nametag

Author. Speaker. Strategist. Inventor. Filmmaker. Publisher. Songwriter.  

[email protected]

www.nametagscott.com

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Wedges of obstinacy where our pride splits at the throne

It’s true that our stubbornness comes from a deep sense of integrity. 

It’s true that our unyielding personality has served us well in many parts of our lives. 

And it’s true that there is no reason to reject healthy expressions of pride just because we don’t want to appear arrogant. 

But it’s also true that stubbornness can keep us lonely. When the tyranny of our individuality starts to rule us, and we are tempted to take our secret special separateness and run into the corner, that’s when our dogged determination bites us in the ass. 

It reminds me of a former coworker, who was quite possibly the most stressed out employee in the tristate area. She carried so much anxiety that the rest of the office had to take antidepressants just make it through staff meetings. 

What’s interesting is, it wasn’t a biological precondition, but a choice she made every day. She knew she was a stubborn person who acted bluntly and reflexively towards her coworkers, and that caused problems time and time again. She knew that her obstinacy caused misunderstandings that she would have to carefully manage, and that led to daily tension with the team. 

But as she famously said to me, those are problems worth having. 

To which we all responded, wow, really? Shouldn’t we be trying to create fewer unnecessary pressures and stressors, not the other way around? 

Chambers was right when he observed, there are wedges of obstinacy where our pride splits at the throne. 

Stubbornness truly can keep us lonely. In a world where shared effort and cooperative spirit is one of the few things we can count on to move our species forward, perhaps there are more important things that our pride right now. 



LET ME ASK YA THIS…

Do you have the capacity to respond flexibly to what the world hurls at you? 



* * * *

Scott Ginsberg

That Guy with the Nametag

Author. Speaker. Strategist. Inventor. Filmmaker. Publisher. Songwriter.  

[email protected]

www.nametagscott.com

It’s the world’s first, best and only product development and innovation gameshow!


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With expectation wringing out our spine

The more that our internal narratives are governed by words like should and deserve and entitle and demand, the more that dissatisfaction courses through our veins. 

Language is just that powerful of a lever. It’s the primary mechanism that pegs our sense of happiness to expectation, to the anticipation of what we think the world owes us because of who we are and how hard we worked and how much we wanted it. 

For this reason, some startup must invent an inbox plugin that warns you when you start writing emails using expectation based language. 

Expecto would be a gentle but useful tool for building awareness of how you produce unnecessary stress for yourself through your attachments and their subsequent disappointments. This browser feature will help you step away from contingent living by using language that doesn’t deny what is, but rather, accepts that there is, and never was, control over anything in the first place. 

And now instead of living your life with fear and anxiety wringing out your spine, you can soak in the possibility of finding freedom from the tyranny of expectation. Now instead of the suffering of living in bondage to your insatiable desire, you can forgive reality for being what it is and actually have gratitude for the joy of living. 


LET ME ASK YA THIS…

Where do you feel most burdened by the weight of expectations?* * * *

Scott Ginsberg

That Guy with the Nametag

Author. Speaker. Strategist. Inventor. Filmmaker. Publisher. Songwriter.  

[email protected]

www.nametagscott.com

It’s the world’s first, best and only product development and innovation gameshow!


Tune in and subscribe for a little execution in public.

Join our community of innovators, artists and entrepreneurs

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