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only two.

there are only two jobs: keep people comfortable or make people uncomfortable. which one did you get? there is not an easier one: both are hard. both take a position with respect to the dissonance that surrounds us all.

one job is to bring it to the front and give it a name. the other job is to push it back and down and make it small — maybe even pretend like it doesn’t exist. this is lots of people’s job, and everyone on this team gets to have each other. sometimes it’s even fun (probably) to act like there is no game, no field, and that we don’t have two teams in different colors with opposing goals. on the other hand, those whose job it is to “make people uncomfortable” come to understand the assignment just as they are beginning to realize they can’t even switch teams — no matter how hard they try and no matter how hard anyone might want it. this is difficult. and they are vastly outnumbered.

now, while self-sacrifice is inherent to “keep people comfortable,” it is not necessary to “make people uncomfortable.” you don’t need to make people look in the mirror. you don’t need them to change. it’s probably easier if they didn’t, to be honest. you’re not responsible for the outcome. you just need to be the mirror. when you are yourself, you show people to themselves, and that is the entire job of “make people uncomfortable.” meanwhile, the other side is meant to stop any and all “make people uncomfortable.” they are entirely responsible for achieving and maintaining the desired outcome of “keep people comfortable.”

we will all eventually find out which job we have landed. and it’s up to us to make sure we are running in the right direction.