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The problem with “Awkward” is that the people who need to know about it and change their ways are not the people who will read about it or care about it.  I’m not saying that some people do not need to be flexible or understanding and others do.  I am saying that one side is always going to be more uncomfortable, and will feel like life is upset more.  Seth Godin’s post is quoted here, with more of my comments below.

Link to Seth’s Blog: Awkward

Awkward

My new favorite word is “awkward.”

It’s awkward to talk to your boss (who has way more experience than you do) about teaching her agile programming.

It’s awkward to call a religious or political leader on their intolerant comments.

It’s awkward to bring up pre-need burial services with an older person. (What a great oxymoron, by the way).

It’s awkward to challenge a co-worker who has a negative attitude, or is constantly surfing myspace.

It’s awkward to ask a new lifeguard recruit at the beach to prove she can actually swim.

It’s awkward to ask the owner of the restaurant to turn off the TV behind the bar.

It’s awkward to create a product that changes the status quo.

It’s awkward to demonstrate your amazing insights when it might threaten those that are looking for stability instead.

The reason we need to be in search of awkward is that awkward is the barrier between us and excellence, between where we are and the remarkable. If it were easy, everyone would have done it already, and it wouldn’t be worth the effort.

Awkward – is the helper’s feeling.  The world is ending horror – is the recipient’s uncomfortable feeling.  Change by itself is not terror and is not the world ending.  I would argue that the feelings of the recipients are exaggerated and painful.  Oh, they are real!  And, feelings are feelings.  They are never wrong.

Better life adjusting skills are probably needed.  Everyone needs that!

What does awkward and uncomfortable have to do with contentment? – - I’m a huge proponent of being content.  That is positive and rewarding and peaceful.  It does not mean being against change or against making things better.  In fact, I would argue that contentment is a proponent of shaking up the status quo – because I believe doing that is often what is needed to be healthy and to adjust to life in a healthier way.

Contentment is part of just being ok and comfortable in your own skin.  That doesn’t make a ton of judgement on what should be done or any other shaming “should” things.  I suspect that people who do not feel content probably have an appetite to try to become content, but reaching for that next thing is exhausting, and full of other individual, unique emotions.

I think I relate contentment to be like peace.  I’m not referring to a war versus peace thing.  I’m referring to the feeling of peace that is very potent and relaxing and revitalizing.  That feeling can come at any time and it does not rely on surroundings.  It is grounded in faith.

“Contentment isn’t a matter of having everything we want, but of not wanting everything we see.” ~from “Real Stories For The Soul” a book by Robert J. Morgan