We’re All Ears Interview Series: Be Endlessly Curious With Ian Simkins

Be Endlessly Curious

Thanks so much for joining me today.  I had the distinct honor of sitting down with my friend, Ian Simkins and talking about sharing your message to the masses.  Ian doesn’t realize it, but he’s influencing people every single day to change the way they think or the way they think about their beliefs.  I LOVED chatting with him and hearing right from him about his journey to sharing a message with the world that he cares about deeply.

Golden Nuggets From Our Conversation:

• How do we find beauty in commonly shared spaces?  Instead of trying to convince people, we’re inviting.  “Beauty isn’t about convincing; it’s about inviting.”  The early church involved five main components:  Word, Meal, Time, Song, Prayer.  Beauty in the Common invites people to write narratives that follow these same five components.  They have people from all types of Christian backgrounds contributing to this project.  
• When was the last time you truly pondered beauty?  “We try to hard to commodify beauty, but it’s the one thing that can’t be commodified.  Beauty doesn’t make real sense, but when we see it, it changes people.”
• The team for Beauty in the Common has pushed for the idea to move forward.  The team helps him dream bigger and what the next phase could be.  
• “Talking about things that push the limit is really a dance.”
• Confirmation bias is such a strong influence of our opinions.  Be careful of this on social media because the algorithms will.  
• “Worldviews are like glasses.  I don’t think about the fact that I’m looking through a lens most of the time, but we are all looking through a lens.  It’s not until the lens fogs up, do I notice it and think about what I’m looking through.”
• Jesus had so many opportunities to say something directly, but instead he told stories.  If we were to take our cues from him, we would do well to get imaginative about how we engage. 
• Build relational equity with people with thoughtful questions, engagement, grace, and kindness.  “I’m perpetually open to the possibility that I am way wrong.”  I believe that other people may be very right.  I try to post things as questions.  “Is it possible that…”  “Could we consider that…?”  “Has anyone thought about…?”
• How do you deal with criticism:  Play drums, go for a run, and physically process criticism.  See the humanity of the person criticizing first before their comment.  Social media allows us a space where we can take a big deep breath in and a big breath out before you respond.  Find mentors who are 20-30 years ahead of you in life.  They can help provide you great perspective.  
• How can we listen well?  “We need to listen to understand, not to respond.”  At the core, when we fail to really listen to people, it’s coming from a belief that what we have to say is more important than the other person.  Be ready to be surprised by people!  Pay attention because you might be surprised.  “Creativity and wisdom doesn’t follow a chain of command.”
• Be endlessly curious about people.  Look for the unique narrative in each human being.  Every human being is made in the Imago Dei – what can be more interesting to discover than that?!
• Don’t be a one-dimensional character online.  People can sniff out if you aren’t being real and only sharing about one thing all the time.  Share about your real life instead so that people can see the full picture of who you are.  “People resonate with humanity and people who are being themselves.”

Recommended Links:

Beauty in the Common

Beauty in the Common Facebook Page

IanSimkins.com

Ian Simkins Facebook

Community Christian Church

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