Archive | October, 2005

On The Passing Of A True Heroine

by on October 28, 2005 in Creative, Life

This past week marked the passing of Rosa Parks, an individual who knew and embodied courage. I’ve been reflecting on what lessons Rosa left for us and how we’ve gotten off-course in our struggle for social and economic justice. I’ve also been considering the work of all who fight for our civil rights and the fact that I’ve given too much of this work to others. Left to the hands of just a few champions, working for true civil rights for all individuals is a fight and a burden. However, if each of us is dedicated to the spirit of equality and love, it ceases to be a struggle. Instead, it becomes a gift that we give to others and ourselves.

We’re nowhere close to approaching this ideal. And the small, but vocally cynical gremlin sitting on my shoulder shouts that it’s just naive, utopian thinking. That gremlin is very persuasive and I’ve believed him for a little too long. I’m realizing that he’s doing his best to keep me safe and comfortable and small like him. But this is all crap to keep me from the difficult and potentially hazardous work of initiating my own efforts to create a soulfully-connected world around me.

So, I’ve sought out spiritual mentors to serve as a counter-balance to my cynicism. Happily, I’ve found inspiration from Frances Moore Lappé. This week, she implores us to take up Rosa’s example and re-embrace our sense of humanity:

So in this historical epoch I believe we must take our cue from Rosa Parks: Our survival depends on not going along, not cooperating with assumptions that violate our deepest sensibilities. And not going along means generating conflict, or at least surfacing it.

The how-to’s of generating and surfacing conflict creatively, I realized, must become just as exalted a skill-set as is creatively resolving conflict. Rosa Parks didn’t on impulse decide one day to say “no.” She’d been training in this art for some time.

At a recent conference hosted by my association, I was blessed to meet Frances Moore Lappé who was the keynote speaker. Her first
gift to us was Diet for a Small Planet in 1971…her most recent gift
is Democracy’s Edge. To be honest, I had never heard of her up to a
couple of months ago and I had no idea of the work she has done in her
life. Yet, the experience of listening to her on stage and afterward in
a more informal setting was deeply stirring. She has such an authentic
and genuine soul; I hope that I am able to meet her again. Of the many things that Frances left with me, perhaps the most significant was the power that each of us has as a singular being to create change in the world. More on this in a later post…

An Odyssey Renewed

by on October 26, 2005 in Career, Creative, Life

Ship_odysseyAs I reflect on the few posts I’ve written in the month of October, I believe I’ve come to some understanding of why I’ve struggled to write more…I’ve lost my way. What exactly does that mean? Well, for starters, I haven’t been true to the original purpose of this blog. I never wanted for this to be just a garden-variety forum for talking about workplace, career, and leadership issues.

Instead, I intended to create a sacred space here to authentically discuss and generate provocative dialogue on livelihood. I desired to not only elaborate on the concept of soulful work, but challenge you and myself to practice it. I craved the community that can only come through an open revealing of myself and my dream that each person know the gift of meaningful work.

A rather lofty vision? You bet. Scary as hell? Oh yeah. It’s a journey that will mean going directly against some very ingrained social, economic, cultural norms. It will mean making changes within myself. It might just mean pissing some folks off along the way (but trust me, it will come from a place of love). And yet, I grow more and more confident in the knowledge that this journey, this path is why I am here. It’s the core of my own purpose in this world. Where the path ultimately leads, I’m not certain. But then, isn’t this how all great odysseys are?

Because There’s Just Too Much “Bad” Conflict…

by on October 18, 2005 in Life

TugowarSo what are you doing this Thursday, October 20? Hopefully, you’re taking part in the first ever Conflict Resolution Day. A huge reason for the creation of this day is to help generate greater awareness of the benefits of alternative dispute resolution and peaceable solutions to violence.

The Association for Conflict Resolution has a growing list of events that are taking place throughout the U.S. and a few other places in the world.

Even if you’re not a professional practitioner, you can still be involved in the celebrating the spirit of conflict resolution. John D. Willis, the Director of the Graduate Studies in Dispute Resolution at Sullivan University, has some ideas for small ways to recognize and honor Conflict Resolution Day:

  • apologize for what you did
  • forgive, accept an apology and move on
  • stop negativity or gossip all day
  • cancel a debt for someone who can’t pay
  • analyze why you are angry and get control of it
  • tell the truth all day
  • send an email of appreciation to someone who will be surprised
  • lead your group in the right direction, all day
  • present a workable solution to the group that shows goodwill
  • sit with a lonely person and listen carefully to them

Practicing Wide-Eyed Lucidity

by on October 17, 2005 in Creative, Life

Ever have a dream where you realize it was a dream? It’s called lucidity. Simplified, its when you become aware that all the rules that govern the dream’s reality don’t actually exist. Kind of like Neo exploring the Matrix. It’s a rich experience where you can do amazing, often superhuman things. Steve Pavlina reminded me of the power of lucidity earlier this year (I first came across this concept as an eleven year old when I picked up a copy of Omni magazine). While my lucid moments tend to be brief, they always elicit a "Wow, this is cool!" feeling. When I wake up, I always wonder why I can’t have more dreaming experiences like this. This past week, I had an actual experience at work that I think may explain why lucidity in dreaming and wide-awake living is so hard to achieve.

I was in a meeting with my team when I was asked a question where I was almost ready to give a pat, well-rehearsed response. The kind of response that would be expected of someone who only knew a little about how to actually solve the problem. The kind of response where the boundaries were dictated by the governing "rules" of management. Yet, at that time, I awoke to a lucid moment where I realized that these so-called rules don’t actually exist and that I was free to create something new.

So, instead of practicing a superpower like flying or shooting flames from my hands, I practiced the real-life superpower of authenticity. I was free to admit my own level of understanding, seek new answers, and create new questions. I was able to be human. Where did this come from? It all seemed to surface from my own thoughts and the realization that I could challenge my notion of reality.

In his challenge for us to Take the Red Pill, Steve artfully writes:

I can’t prove to you that you’re in a thought bubble right now. But you
can prove it to yourself if you have enough curiosity to make the
attempt. You have to decide to swallow the red pill. The only way to
prove you’re in a thought bubble is to consciously change your thoughts
in such a way that you contradict at least one of the foundational
beliefs that form the bubble. This begins with opening your mind to the
possibility that your thoughts are shaping your reality. You think your
thoughts are actually based on some reality “out there,” but they’re
really creating your reality. If you believe in an objective external
reality, then that will be true for you. But are you aware that you
don’t have to subscribe to this belief? And that doing so unnecessarily
limits your experience of life?

Moments of lucidity can happen to us all the time. As Steve suggests, we have the power to recreate our reality and shape our lives in ways formerly thought impossible. The challenge is to simply wake up.

Here I Come To Save The…Wait, What?

by on October 11, 2005 in Career, Work

Mighty_mouseCan you just hear Andy Kaufman singing along right now?

So, I’ve been back from my association’s annual conference for a couple of weeks now…yet, I’ve found it difficult to rediscover my writing groove. These past two to three weeks have been tinged with plenty of anxiety as it was made very clear to me by my association’s leaders and volunteers just how much is riding on my work. As in: THE FATE OF THE ORGANIZATION RESTS IN YOUR HANDS. Okay, so cue me, dressed as Mighty Mouse, singing, "Here I come to save the day!" I also have to admit that I can easily get caught up in playing the savior role, even though I try to eschew it.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking…it’s the same thing that I’m thinking: I can’t do it all by myself. I have a good staff here and a supportive CEO. I have allies in some of my Board leaders. And as I look back to the hyperlinked article above, I find myself meditating on the very notion that my work as organizational manager and leader is not to save anyone, but to help them be their very best.

Which gets me thinking about something perhaps more important…I’m being challenged right now to be true to my passion for bringing passion and soulfulness to my work and help others find it in their own work. That takes a great deal of courage. That’s worth repeating: PURSUING SOULFUL WORK TAKES GUTS. Lot’s of it.

Friends, thanks for indulging me. The one thing that this blog helps me with is getting past my own crap and seeing things for not only what they are, but what they can be. My hope is that my journey is helpful to you, as well. So, let’s feel free to enjoy the adventures of Mighty Mouse and remember…he’s a trained super-rodent – we don’t need to try his stunts in our own workplace.