Our outside self is constantly in dialogue with our inside self. How is that conversation going for you?

*The voice in the glimmering black orb | Created by Jay W. Austin & DALL•E*

We move through the world with a theory of control.

Our theories of control give us an internal reference point. I imagine this reference point more as a shiny black orb. In that glistening sphere are the behaviors that we believe lead to a stable existence.

In every moment of our life we venture to and from that orb. Different distances and different directions for everyone, but we’re all oscillating in some way or another.

These movements lead us to believe a variety of things about our own evolution.

Sometimes we interpret this as growth, as evolution. You’ve moved, therefore you’ve changed. You’re not who you were a moment ago (“moment” being a relative measure of time and distance).

Then there are other times when we understand the movement as the sign of stability. That you’ve never switched up. That you’ve always been this principled person that doesn’t waver.

These are the stories we tell ourselves.

The main narrator is us, but the specific version of ourself that lives in that shimmering orb as dense as marble. It’s the inside us.

But what happens when our theory of control doesn’t work for the outside us?

Our theory of control is expressed by the sound of our own voice radiating from the orb. Sometimes accepts a new script, and sometimes it rejects all edits.

Regardless, send it your notes.

Aye, I’m Jay. You’re on my personal site where I post things I make about interrupting mass incarceration, protecting migration, environmental justice & sustainability, language, communications, storytelling, creativity, and tech.

Learn about my ventures here, check out my non-profit initiative here, or explore my consultant services here.