Inner work frameworks, practices, and questions – all in a five-minute read. Delivered to your inbox every Wednesday morning before you even wake up. Written and curated by Andrew Lang.
What Does it Mean to Be "On the Hook?": The Wednesday 1-2-3
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Happy Wednesday Reader! Here's 1 teaching, 2 questions, and 3 resources to explore this week: 1. TeachingWhat does it mean to be “on the hook?” The usual response sounds something like this: to be “on the hook” is to be responsible for something or someone. When we’re given a task at work, we’re “on the hook” for its completion. When we’re caring for toddlers at home, we’re “on the hook” for their safety. But what if being “on the hook” isn’t just about being responsible for something or someone? Instead, what if it’s an invitation to place ourselves in a position to offer the world our full presence and aliveness? The Tradition of Askıda EkmekIn Turkey, there is an ancient tradition known as “askıda ekmek” – or “bread on the hook.” Upon entering a local bakery, folks might see a hook on the wall where people have purchased and left behind an extra loaf of bread for the next person who might need it, but can’t afford it. It’s a cultural tradition of paying it forward. The bread is “on the hook” – sustenance for those who need it. So in the spirit of askıda ekmek, what if we saw ourselves – our gifts, our work, our purpose, our posture – as on the hook for our communities? Not as individuals attempting to be solely responsible for the collective (which can quickly translate to saviorism and paternalism), but as community members offering that which brings us aliveness and fullness to our communities? (In a sustainable, boundary-honoring way, of course.) Author and entrepreneur Seth Godin writes: By putting yourself on the hook, you’re performing a generous act. You are sharing insight and love and magic. And the more it spreads, the more it’s worth to all of those who are lucky enough enough to experience your contribution. 2. Questions
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The Wednesday 1-2-3
Inner work frameworks, practices, and questions – all in a five-minute read. Delivered to your inbox every Wednesday morning before you even wake up. Written and curated by Andrew Lang.
Hey Reader, At one of the monasteries grounded in Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings, there’s a beautiful tradition: Throughout the day, and at seemingly random intervals, a bell chimes across the entire campus. It’s an invitation (and a norm) that everyone, including guests, pause what they’re doing and settle in for a moment of mindfulness. In the middle of a bite? Pause. In the middle of a conversation? Pause. In the middle of a lecture or teaching? Pause. It’s meant as a sometimes-gentle,...
Hey Reader, In the conversations I've had with friends the last couple days, there has been one prevailing and overwhelming theme: This week has been emotionally brutal for many of us. I'll just pause and speak from my experience here: since watching the attempted assassination of former President Trump, I've felt myself in a space of sadness, frustration, and – more than anything else – anxiety. It feels like a heaviness and a dread in my chest that just won’t let me go. And given my...
Hey Reader, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I refer to as “the gift percolating up from within me.” Some folks call this a “calling.” Others call it our “daimon” or reference the Japanese concept of “ikigai.” Gay Hendricks calls it our “Zone of Genius.” I think of it as the quality of living that is uniquely ours to nurture and bring forth in the world. And, when I’m present to my life, I notice this quality more and more. I notice when I’m engaging in work that doesn’t feel like work. Or...