Trim the Hedges

When we hedge our words, we add some verbal or non-verbal qualifier that blunts our statement’s impact. Hedging makes conversations more comfy, less confrontational. Hedges allow us to have a thought, but not own that thought one-hundred-percent…just in case…

My two personal favorites hedges are “…but I don’t know,” and “…I guess.” Upon first hearing me speak, it might seem as though I don’t know anything, and that I’m just guessing at shit all the time. “I don’t know…I guess maybe we should go practice. But…I don’t know.” Daaamn.

I also find myself hedging my work. It happens most often in one of two situations: when I play bass for other people, and when I’m teaching with another teacher in the room. I’ll offer some explanation about why I’m not playing so well today, or why my class is a bit too crazy.

But I’m starting to see how those hedges take away from the uncomfortable, but necessary, process of owning and embracing where we’re really at, and moving forward from there. At the end of the day, the hedges we make to others are really excuses we make to ourselves.

So I’m trying to own the discomfort, allow people to see where I really am, and allow myself to accept and confront that person - flaws and all. Sometimes it’s embarrassing, but it’s worth it. Let’s trim the hedges, own our statements, and own our work. But, I don't know…