‘While participating in U.Lab, what has been your most important insight about yourself?*

Haven’t we done enough thinking about ourselves?  Isn’t the more hopeful thing to begin thinking about others?

It’s not about thinking about ourselves or others, it’s about how we think about ourselves.

A deeper reflection will not only take us to a truer understanding of ourselves – we are less than who we think we are and more than we know – but will also take us to others in their uniqueness and worth.

To move towards others, I need to give up the poorer ideas I have about myself – who I am, what I have, and what I can do.

When we become people who not only act and experience but also reflect on these actions and experiences then we have created a pause.  But it is only a pause before we do what we must do.

‘After blending, the Scotch is returned to oak casks, where the flavour improves, becoming smoother and creamier with a longer, lingering finish.’**

This is the process of double-aging: blending whiskies then maturing for longer.  Whilst they’ve matured on their own, something very special happens when they are blended and aged again.

It’s a picture of what happens when we bring our best personal insights and share with others.

(*From U.Lab Portobello.  Check out yesterday’s post for more on U.Lab.)
(** Sally Rasmussen in 1001 Whiskies You Must Try Before You Die.)