Applying restraint to your idea

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The main theme of this archetype is analyzing what happens to your idea when you force it to stop. A great test of character is in seeing what happens when an idea is stopped in its tracks, observe how it responds, if it gets aggressive or passive, if it surrenders or fights. All of these responses are insights into the internal character of the idea. Stable ideas, if stopped by a greater force than itself will more likely surrender and accept its obstacle than fight it. Unstable ideas could react very unpredictably and struggle in the face of a forced stoppage. This archetype is about testing the character of your idea by observing what happens when its motion through time is abruptly disturbed. 

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There are many forms of temporarily restraining an idea; a digital product may stop when there is a problem with a server, a flight might stop when it runs out of fuel, a political system might stop when a big event makes people question their loyalty. These are pivotal moments to apply an observation perspective, rather than rush to restart ask yourselves if there is an immediate sense of urgency to restart? If so then maybe your idea is starting to be depended on by it's audience. Maybe it's become a big part of the supply chain, or it's becoming a reliable source for other ideas to rotate around. 

 

What are the impacts of the service stopping? Who or what is impacted? This will give a great idea of the "audience" your idea has attracted. Going by the principle of the laws of attraction; like things attract other like things. If you realize that during the sudden stoppage of your idea that its audience was completely different than you expected, then you will need to re-assess how you understand the idea. Maybe this can serve as new insights for new inspiration. 

 

Is the idea dependent on continual motion. If so then perhaps this is another consideration to make for dependencies of your idea that need to be included in the last stage. Is it possible to let the idea pause for a bit and recalibrate? Then you have a lot more freedom to experiment and try new things.

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Applying restraint before restraint finds you

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Restraint should be exercised when perhaps you have lost perspective on the direction your idea is heading in, or if you can no longer see an alignment between your idea's agency and your desires. If you can find a way to suspend the usual activity of your idea, you will soon notice a new perspective on its direction and if it is aligned with your values. 

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If you don't find a way to restrain your idea to see what it's made of, then you will be totally unprepared in the event that it will be restrained by another external source. It's in running fire drills that we can find flaws in the system and improve upon it; the same principle should be applied to your idea. What would a fire drill for your idea look like? If it's a physical idea, how are all the ways that the idea could abruptly change and how could you mitigate those abrupt moments?

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This archetype reminds us that pauses are a universal force in nature, and it will be up to you to determine if it will be voluntary or involuntary.

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If you would like to explore the insights of a recently imposed restraint on your idea, or you want to explore how to create a form of restraint before restraint finds you, then reach out! We thrive on your engagement and appreciate all forms of discussing these ideas.