The Danger of working in the familiar

Last night I was at a conference and the speaker talked about the danger of working in the familiar. Meaning working around the familiar with the people who know you too well.

He compared this to the plight of Jesus who attempted to preach in his hometown but was not as effective as he could have been (at home).

This is largely due to the fact that he was not preaching like the Pharisees. The Pharisees had plenty of religious traditions but no spirituality.

Jesus was more concerned with saving souls than observing tradition. He was doing the unfamiliar in a familar place which created contempt towards him. I imagine people were like “You are from the same place we are, this is what we believe and what we do, stop acting like you are different from us, we know who you are!”

When you are trying to do something new in an area where people think they know who you are it can be difficult.

Sometimes people you grew up with can’t understand that you have evolved and are evolving.

You are not bound by your heritage, circumstances, city, upbringing, or any other conventionality.

Unfortunately, you may have to break out of your comfort zone and do your work in a new place where you can express who you really are currently.

I’m not saying to completely abandon where you are permanently. But start somewhere fresh.

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