Prioritizing Human Connection Amidst Technological Advancements: Redefining AI Assistance to Connect Us

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Prioritizing Human Connection Amidst Technological Advancements:  Redefining AI Assistance to Connect Us 

Do you know that feeling when you've just climbed that last hill through struggle? Technology can become our next best friend and assist us in our roll forward through life's challenges. 

AI wheelchairs are one form of technology that offers life-changing independence. These devices put users in control and afford relief from relying on another human for assistance in many daily tasks. 

Whatever technological advancement, and however grateful we may be for newfound individual freedom, loneliness may be the paralyzing energy we experience without attention to human connection.

AI is helping us become more independent in many ways, whether we embrace or fear it. How might we reinforce human connection through massive dramatic relationship changes, even where fears exist? Let's explore!

A Robotic Helping Hand Isn't Strong Enough to Carry Our Woes

 I'll never forget the exciting day many years ago when my soon-to-be husband was invited to be one of the first beta testers for a robotic hand for spinal cord-injured patients.

Having sustained a C-5 permanent spinal injury, you might imagine my boyfriend was more than eager to try this assistive device, which would give him another level of independence and add efficiency to his daily routine.

It may sound obvious that a device that can only handle a small juice can or pencil can offer such personal freedom to a physically injured person. 

Sometimes, a helping hand is less obvious when massive changes paralyze our ability to ignite, let alone engage with authentic confidence and courage to speak about our inner struggles. 

To aid in that type of paralysis today, let's implement our kind of helping hand-- human AI, or Authentic Initiation to explore our current:

1) Strengths

2) Values

3) Presence

The purpose is to offer fresh insight beyond standard advice around stress management, self-care, self-love, and connection while navigating debilitating change and overwhelming circumstances.

STRENGTHS

Consider how paralyzed we might feel to tell someone how scared we are, for example. Most of us have experienced that nervousness and fear of being judged or even rejected as 'weak.' 

Where we may not even have the words to describe what we're going through, we may only prove strong in regrettable silence vs. strength in intimacy.

VALUES

We may have all the courage to accept our situation and be grateful for artificial advances outside of us that assist us in progress. 

At the same time, how often do we consider that our interaction with our values may be so rigid we block our movement in connection with all that may have changed our lives? 

Assessing our values can be a helping hand to move us in a more efficient and effective direction.

For example, let's say optimism is a value of yours. Sometimes, being overly optimistic can lead to overlooking potential risks or challenges. In situations beyond our control, it's crucial to remain flexible and willing to adjust our expectations and plans as circumstances change.

With this values-centered helping hand in mind to create flexible changes, imagine how much more efficient and effective you might become through your dramatic life changes!

PRESENCE

In connecting with our prayers and beyond ourselves, we mustn't ignore the fact that we interact with other physical beings here on earth daily. 

Whether we cherish another person or not, assessing our presence among our human brothers and sisters can improve our peace of mind in all areas of life.

Overcoming communication and connection paralysis is a human endeavor, and we must prioritize it if we want authentic vs. artificial connections with others.

It's easy to see how technology may help us maintain our usual functions. It also cannot penetrate our aspirations to flourish or our desire to cultivate meaningful relationships.

Let's ignite the AI human endeavor or to assist in our relationships.

We will:

Redefine our strengths for more effective movement forward

Repurpose our values to fit our time of dramatic change

Refine our presence for energetic connection

In a world of intelligence brought forth through artificial means and academic achievement, let us not forget that we are humans with authentic energies stirring inside to connect. Let's help to replenish and release them!

Authentic Initiative Project #1:  Strength Redefined

Navigating the unknown, have you noticed how often you possess massive strength at lifting heavy responsibilities? You're probably also held in the highest respect by others for getting it "all done."  

Still, people will point to the inevitable breakdown you're in for. You may have noticed that burnout is the primary warning discussed if you aren't careful to 'slow down' a bit.

Professionals offer workshops in stress management, and friends remind us to take care of ourselves, which may mean a cup of tea, a bubble bath, and loving ourselves through affirmations that we are 'enough.'

It is by no means a play here to diminish these support systems. It's a curiosity piece to ask: Are these supports limited in reaching the authentic dimensions of the human connection we desire? 

We know how to reduce stress, and most of us are trying to reduce it consistently. We may have a stress-reduction routine of taking a day on the golf course or reading a book by the pool. Are we any closer in relationships to discuss our dreams, pains, fears, or desires for change?

Few discussions center on the crucial support systems that foster strength in self-awareness, self-expression, and intimacy, yet these play a pivotal role in emotional fitness and promoting connection. 

One such support system is vulnerability. It's in fashion as a buzzword, and most people are afraid to be seen wearing it. However, it is one area where we must pick up the pace in our relationships—especially during drastic changes we didn't see coming if we want to move beyond the artificial wear of our woes.

Brené Brown defines vulnerability as "uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure in her book, Daring Greatly.

While we may be masters at diving into uncertainty and risk, we may be miserable in our willingness to engage in emotional exposure.

It's not about revealing all your secrets to the world to get others to trust you. Sometimes, business leaders' efforts to establish 'know, like, trust' can feel opportunistic and artificial, prioritizing 'getting' over genuine connection. 

Commitment to vulnerability can mean re-learning to actively engage with what's stirring inside us and improving our self-expression with each season of change that comes our way. 

For many years, I've pointed out that a 'slowdown' suggestion isn't always relevant to our struggle. When our relationships are stressed, we must generate a faster pace in awareness of any disconnect that may arise while tackling the unknown. 

Today, I want to appeal to those of us seeking more connection, especially those where our slowdown approach to 'rest' isn't helping to bring movement in intimacy.

Whatever your juggling situation, imagine a rise in efficiency and effectiveness in pace with self-awareness and self-expression without burning unnecessary energy or the bridges we've built between others.

Much like a robotic hand can assist in lifting a pencil, imagine picking up the pace to authentically initiate an effortless habit of daily connecting rather than an exhausting emotional venture in the survival of circumstances. 

Muscles of Strength

We've been told we're 'strong.' Even if we're not fully convinced, we stay tuned by strengthening certain muscles to stay on top of our game and independently free to figure things out. 

The question is: Are they the most appropriate muscles to build connection and momentum in relationships?

I want to turn to humility as a potential muscle to grow alongside the vein of vulnerability to renew our strength in intimacy. 

Imagine balancing humility with the assertiveness we demonstrate at work and our advocacy for others!

We must be humble and recognize that our current approach to strength in connection with others may be ineffective. Instead of stubbornly relying on our usual methods, we must demonstrate a willingness to adapt our approach and redefine our strength before the next difficult season emerges.

I invite you to be brave and ask: Are these strengths and values I hold the most accurate representations of where I want to go in this season of life? In what ways do these strengths and values support my desire for connection?

What might happen if you were willing to change the type of strength you're engaged in if it means a healthier, more effective pace with all of life's uphill battles?

Let's begin with a scene from my past to introduce you to a you can create for yourself!

 Rolling Up Hill Doesn't Have to Wear You Out

I can still see my soon-to-be spouse strengthening his arms by pushing a manual wheelchair down the hospital corridor. He got the wheels moving in extreme slow motion, and we all celebrated his newfound movement through physical paralysis!

Slow and steady wins the race in many cases. Again, we're talking about when slowing down doesn't make sense. We grunt uphill through life, sometimes to show off all we 'can' do, maybe to cover a fear of judgment.

Today isn't about playing a slow and steady game to win; we're picking up the pace to welcome in, a repeat choice to generate self-awareness around strengths--to remain humble in our relationship with them. 

In my boyfriend's case, he recognized that pushing a manual chair was the least helpful use of strength as it would require a massive amount of time, waste, and effort. 

That show of physical strength to move across the floor inch by inch was worth celebrating, and it was also not a sustainable long-term plan to improve his quality of life. 

To go the extra mile, he chose a power wheelchair over a manual push chair. It didn't diminish his strength; it helped to redefine it!

There is always a risk in taking the more flexible path to ignite effortless motion forward. People may accuse you of being a quitter.

People may say you're weak to want to roll forward with less headache. Others may strip you of your 'strong card' to say you're lazy.

And we must not allow those opinions to paralyze our momentum!

That story illustrates perseverance and peace of mind working together to get where you're going without unnecessary hassles or burdensome displays of strength to prove you 'can' do something! 

Ask yourself: Just because I'm strong enough to accomplish the task at hand and align with my values, is it sufficient to maintain my definition of quality of life?

What strength might you gain in your relationship with humility and assertiveness as the balancing pieces in your life? 

Now that you've worked to connect and redefine your strengths in pace with your uphill situation and authentic desires, we'll move on to Authentic Initiative #2.

Authentic Initiative Project #2: Values Repurposed

In my journey as a full-time caregiver to my soon-to-be spouse, I was confronted with the stark reality that the conventional notion of a 'normal' day no longer applied to my life. Has this ever happened to you?

For example, a morning care routine could now take four to six hours, not including my own care. So, why did I insist on killing myself to make it on time to family affairs scheduled at 11:00 a.m. with a one-hour+ drive in front of me, even following another sleepless night? 

The answer is:

I had yet to learn that my rigid connection with the 'family first' value was working against me! I had to discover that it's possible and sometimes necessary to bend our values in ways that maintain our vision for quality of life. 

It took exercising the muscle of humility to explore my approach to firm values.

I discovered the strength in speaking my truth about how much it takes to arrive on time to family events, which was a more effective way to create family connections and peace of mind than stubborn, sleepless attempts.

I wasn't throwing out my 'family first' value. I was repurposing it in a way that helped me effortlessly connect through exhausting circumstances.

An Authentic Initiative and a humble connection to values could be your next innovative step in stress management. In facing reality and speaking your truth, you may find that others can more readily assist in ways they couldn't before. And what an emotional relief that might be!

Authentic Initiative #3: Presence Refined

Why must we wait for 'lessons' to emerge after we've survived something? How might we create a lesson plan through dramatic change to help us gain further connection in relationships? 

Imagine creating a lesson plan today around a more lively vs. half-dead presence through struggles. Where do we begin?

Let's begin with a courage-first approach to daily life. Courage often emerges in times of uncertainty and can be a primary energy source flowing. Let's take advantage of it!

In times of uncertainty, our compassion may run dry for others who have dropped out of our dilemma. Anger and bitterness can become our new best friends in strength to emerge.

Courageous energy to drop expectations about how others 'should' behave is one example of how we can refine our presence. 

Imagine stepping out of bitterness and into benevolence as your form of self-care and more profound connection with fellow humans.

The Artificial Nature of Humans and Authentic Initiative Forward

Carrying a strong label can sometimes be a burden. While the battle we're fighting may not be fit for the faint of heart, admitting we might feel 'weak' in our fears and doubts is a vulnerable thought that can make us light-headed. 

To protect ourselves, we grow masks of deception--successfully convincing others some days that we are just 'fine.' As a result, we languish in artificial portrayals of inner turmoil.

Imagine the connections we could make if we cease creating inauthentic versions of ourselves.

At the beginning of our journey, I mentioned that loneliness may be the paralyzing energy we experience without paying attention to human connection.

Picking up the pace in our awareness of artificial reliance can bring new insight into why we aren't as fulfilled as we'd like in relationships.

Many people are turning to education in AI (artificial intelligence) to assist with all areas of life. Imagine our movement if human AI-- Authentic Initiation were prioritized alongside the power of technological advances.

Growing our strength doesn't have to be limited to the idea that what does not kill us will make us stronger. A choice to redefine our strength can yield effortless motion and connection forward rather than exhausting displays of what we can achieve.

Vulnerability can be a vein of strength in our emotional fitness. Humility can be the muscle we exercise to examine our strengths, values, and presence and see if a change is necessary to fit our current season of struggle.

At the same time, humility can be the balancing internal partner to our established assertiveness in other areas of life.

With strengths redefined, values repurposed, and presence refined, we've consciously innovated a hand to help us through paralyzing times and pick up what may have been too heavy to lift in this season of life.

Traditional stress-management advice to 'slow down' won't solve our communication paralysis and disconnect in relationships. We picked up the pace to bring authentic self-expression, peace of mind, and effortless connection to our perseverance.

Together, we are an AI force by our design! I encourage us all to create a lesson plan leveraging the courage we already possess vs. waiting for lessons to show up after we've survived something. It can begin with a seasonal commitment to Authentic Initiative.

Let's partner to pick up momentum and help you roll over that next hill and reach your next milestone in personal and professional development. Join my email community to continue creating your