Shhhhhhhhh!
I am going to tell you a secret.
Please, please, please, don’t tell anyone. Promise?
Last Monday, I wrote a post that went viral. The truth is that I made up a big part of the story. The one about my friend disclosing my secret to 1,723 IG connections. It was me who revealed it. Not to IG. But to my LinkedIn followers that day. Some noticed (1 or 2). Most of them didn’t.
That’s what fiction does. Creates fictitious stories to make people feel. In a way, it lies.
Did I lie? In a way, yes. But with the best of intentions. I did it for the sake of philosophy. To make you reflect on the idea of keeping secrets.
And, like every time I try to teach something, I was among the ones who learned the most.
And here we are, my fellow PhiloSurfer, at the culmination of this revelation.
Secrets hold a mysterious allure, captivating our curiosity and sparking contemplation.
A few notes:
- Epicurus, whose philosophy revolves around the idea of pleasure, freedom & friendship, recommends that we live secretly (λάθε βιώσας). He warned us against the hassle of a too-public life, like that of politicians or famous business people.
- Jeff Clark took this advice to the next level & had all Mavericks waves for himself for 15 years.
- Secrets are dual – they have two sides:
- A positive side: They can arise from your deliberate, individual choice: They enable us to control the spread of information.
- A negative side: They can be forcefully imposed on you. Actually, all communities have cultural mechanisms to do so. Just think of the Mafia and their code of silence (omertà).
- Actionable tip: Every time you find yourself keeping a secret, question why you are keeping it. What forces are holding you from disclosing it? Who benefits from your silence? If it’s on the negative side of secrets, consider sharing it.
But let’s not forget another important lesson. Suppose we confide in a friend (whether a secret spot for surfing or a crush on a work colleague). In that case, we can’t be upset if they inadvertently reveal our secret. After all, we were the ones who initially shared it with them…
Now, as your closest friend, I am ready to entrust you with an even more secretive secret (if such a thing is possible).
Are you ready?
Sure?
“For in the act of sharing a secret, we engage in one of the most potent forms of communication, tapping into our primal instincts of curiosity and connection.”
That’s precisely what ASP & Rip Curl did in 2006 with the secret contest held “Somewhere in Mexico.” Not revealing that it was held in Barra de la Cruz, Oaxaca, was such a genius communication strategy that has made it, together with the “A Fistful of Barrels” documentary, so memorable that we are still discussing it 17 years later.
Before we part ways, I must remind you, my trusted confidant, to keep this newsletter to yourself. The PhiloSurfer Club is a secret society thriving on the discretion and loyalty of its members.
Aloha, & let the power of secrets guide us on our journey of introspection & enlightenment!
