Dilution

Last night, I watched a very thought-provoking interview between Jordan Peterson and Alex O’Connor. While I have heard the story of Abraham many times, I have listened to it through new eyes.

God called Abraham to embark on a remarkable journey that would profoundly impact his life and human history. God’s voice urged Abraham to step out of his comfort zone and the familiar surroundings he had known and embrace a spirit of adventure. This divine call was an invitation to personal growth, a challenge to commit himself fully to a purpose greater than himself, and a test of his willingness to make sacrifices along the way.
The message from God was clear: “Leave your homeland, your familiar territory, and set forth on a journey of faith. Embrace the unknown, follow your instincts, and allow yourself to grow through this experience.” This call demanded a leap of faith, a willingness to relinquish the security of the known for the promise of something greater.
God’s promise to Abraham was multifaceted. First, by heeding this call, Abraham would be a blessing unto himself — he would experience personal fulfillment and spiritual growth and deepen his relationship with the divine. Second, by embarking on this journey, Abraham would establish a valid reputation that would resonate through generations as a testament to his unwavering faith and obedience.
God assured Abraham that his legacy would extend far beyond his own life. Abraham would establish a permanent dynasty through his willingness to answer this call. This lineage would benefit him and have a profound impact on the world around him. His descendants would become a great nation, a blessing to all peoples, carrying forward the torch of faith and obedience that Abraham himself had kindled.
God promised Abraham more than just establishing a great nation. He promised him an invitation to a profound spiritual journey. Abraham’s willingness to answer God’s call, to leave his comfort zone and follow his instincts, set him on a path that would forever shape the essence of Christian faith.

As Jordan Peterson eloquently stated, “Christians hoist their cross and walk up the hill.” The Christian pathway is inherently sacrificial, a paradoxical reality where one must “stumble uphill with the most weight they can bear.” It is a journey of embracing the world's fallen nature and taking responsibility to do something about it through imitation of Christ.

Abraham’s story encapsulates this sacrificial spirit. By heeding God’s voice, he sacrificed the familiarity of his homeland, embracing the unknown with faith and insistence. His commitment was akin to a baptism, a rebirth into a higher calling that would shape not just his life but the lives of countless generations to come.

In this light, Abraham’s journey was one of “falling into his destiny” — a descent into a reality where meaning allows one to bear the weight of sacrifice. It was a process of inviting the divine presence within, of aligning his spine with a purpose greater than himself, and shouldering the cross that would lead him and his descendants to become “a blessing to all peoples.”

Peterson’s insights shed light on the profound truth that being a Christian is not merely a label but a continuous choice to “aim up”—to embrace the sacrificial pathway, even when it demands stumbling and struggling. For in that uphill battle, in that insistence on imitating Christ’s suffering, one opens the door for transformation, for becoming “more capable” than before.

Abraham’s legacy extends beyond establishing a great nation; it is a testament to the power of falling into one’s destiny, of yielding to the call of the divine, even when it demands the heaviest of crosses. It is a reminder that the Christian faith is not merely a set of beliefs but a lifelong journey of sacrificial commitment — a journey that Abraham himself embarked upon, paving the way for future generations.

I never saw my current path as one that bears the weight of the cross because I want to help everyone. I have no particular religious beliefs, but I believe in God and reference God and the Universe throughout my writings and thought process. But now I see my path a little more clearly.

Faith is faith.

A couple of years ago, a thought came to me when I felt my most broken. The thought was a belief: I love others more than they love me. More recently, another thought and belief has appeared in parallel: I don’t make sacrifices; I am the sacrifice.

Yesterday, I retold a story documenting the last few weeks. I posted it in a Facebook Group, but I will rewrite it here:

The last three weeks have been filled with my life's most enlightening days and moments. The catalyst for that was a freaking marketing conference, but if one would peel back the curtain, one would see so much more than tips and tricks. In Dallas, at that room, at those tables, within whispers of conversations, and over overpriced salads, catered breakfasts and cocktails, so much more was taking place.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone I met at [the conference I attended].
That conference changed my life, and I have RB, DK, their wakes, their impressions, and their legacies to thank for that.
I have been writing daily for the last three months. I was the girl walking laps around the parking lot before the sun rose each morning. While at the conference, there was a shift. A moment of taking my evening writing into the morning as a new morning ritual. [This is all documented here in my writings on Medium.]
Writing is my favorite thing to do in the world. It is where I feel at home. I have avoided it as a personal endeavor for all these years, but now it is the sole purpose I wake up to each morning.
I have been running my whole life like a never-ending marathon, trying to please everyone around me while barely surviving.
The people at the conference gave me permission to say “no more.”
Last night, all of my worlds collided, resembling what others see as the weight of it all crushing me, but instead, it was me lifting all of the weight off. [I documented this in my last post.]
This morning, I slept in for the first time in a while. I had had too long of a day and was sleeping the worst I had ever had. When I made it to my computer, this is what I wrote… [Yesterday’s post titled, Tests. Linked here.]
So I come here to say thank you out loud because, whether we talked or not, we are all part of this universe, and our ripples are everywhere.
With love and hugs, Jo.

If you have followed along for the last 11 weeks, you will see the documentation of my confusion and growth, dating back to March 7th, 2024. I went from this girl trying to share her knowledge about real estate marketing to this woman sharing her thoughts, feelings, insights, and perspective on balancing it all through work-life harmony.

I still desperately want to share with you the technical side of how I have done what I have done (increased my income by 3x), but the mindset is the foundation of everything in life, including online marketing.

If you are failing at your endeavors right now, I encourage you to sign up for the waitlist for the 6-day Mini-Course I have created. I am marketing it to real estate agents, but it is for every entrepreneur ready to take their business seriously by building an online presence.

Here is the link: https://www.os.joandcoaching.com/.

As you may have noticed by now, a word, a thought, a line from a song, or a quote from a movie might enter my mind. I write it down, which becomes the foundation for a daily writing.

Today’s word was “dilution.”

When stories, whether factual or fictional, are passed down from person to person or generation to generation, an inherent dilution occurs. Each retelling inevitably introduces alterations, embellishments, or omissions, gradually diluting the original essence of the story. Even if unintentional, the subjective lens through which each narrator perceives and recounts the tale inevitably shapes and transforms it.

This dilution is not necessarily a negative phenomenon but a natural consequence of the human experience. Stories evolve as they travel through time and across cultures, adapting to new contexts and acquiring layers of meaning. However, it is essential to recognize that with each iteration, the story’s purity and authenticity become increasingly diluted, potentially straying from its original intent or message.

My observation about dilution extends beyond stories to our daily conversations and interactions. When we engage with others, we risk diluting their experiences, perspectives, or narratives by imposing our own interpretations or assumptions. This dilution can occur through interruptions, unsolicited advice, or the tendency to steer the conversation toward our own interests or experiences.

To counteract this dilution, I have adopted an approach: ask questions. By actively listening and inquiring, I can create space for the other person to share their story or perspective without the dilution that may arise from my own inputs or preconceptions. My greatest hope, whether realized or not, is that this demonstrates a profound respect for the individual and a genuine desire to understand their authentic experiences without distortion.

I believe that, by asking questions, I encourage the other person to delve deeper into their thoughts and emotions, potentially revealing layers of meaning or nuances that may have otherwise been overlooked or diluted in a more one-sided conversation.

Adopting a questioning mindset and actively listening can serve as a powerful antidote in a world where the dilution of stories, ideas, and experiences is inevitable. It allows us to engage with others in a way that honors their authenticity and preserves the richness of their narratives, fostering a deeper understanding and connection.

I think it isn’t just me, but we all crave a human experience that allows us to connect with others on a deeper, more meaningful level, whether we realize it or not. This allows us to feel more alive.

We open a doorway to genuine communication when we ask questions and listen intently. We signal that we genuinely care about what the other person has to say, not just the words they speak but the experiences, thoughts, and emotions behind them. By drawing them out further through questions, we allow them to share their authentic selves more openly.

This questioning approach, done with an open and non-judgmental attitude, creates an environment of respect and safety where both parties feel free to share their stories, ideas, and sincere inner experiences without the threat of interruptions or being shut down. The shared experience becomes one of deep engagement, understanding, and validation rather than a mere transfer of information.

We all intuitively crave this feeling of being honestly heard, understood, and accepted at our core; our minds are open to expanding further when respected communication opens through an open-questioning approach. Done well, asking questions and allowing the other person’s narrative to emerge fully creates a feeling of equality, empowerment, comfort, and transcendent human connection—thoughts and experiences can breathe fully rather than feeling restricted by an overly fixed, prescribed response.

Adopting a questioning mindset and posture of openness, we inherently foster an atmosphere of deeper engagement, open exploration of thoughts, and fuller sharing of experiences. We signal a willingness to go wherever the communication flows, honoring the other person’s narrative, allowing it to emerge and evolve fully, rather than curtailing it through assumptions, interruptions, or a restricted, pre-judged reaction response. When conversations flow with open give-and-take, both participants feel free to share their authentic selves completely, respecting each other’s narratives as fertile grounds for ongoing learning, mutual exploration, and transformative personal growth.

Yep, all this stemmed from one interview and one word. Lol.

I love to absorb content and meaning beyond myself. How about you?

Leave a comment below about what your biggest takeaway from the interview was! Interview link: https://www.dailywire.com/episode/tbd-alex-o-connor.

With love,

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Jordan Marie SchilleciJune 5, 2024