This is the question that drives me to distraction. ‘ How may I best help and in helping, help myself?’
This is what I know
- We face unprecedented levels of stress, anxiety, frustration, hopelessness, depression, conflict and overwhelm.
- Most of us are seriously searching for meaning and purpose
- The vast bulk (let’s say 99%) of small business fail or fail to thrive
- The vast bulk (let’s say 99%) of relationships fail or fail to thrive
- The lack of financial resources is the #1 pain most of us experience
- Retirement is now a major source of stress. We are living longer and the cost of living is escalating daily.
- Humans have become a formidable negative global environmental influence
- At the leading edge, our cultural context is developing so fast, it makes our eye’s water
What’s going on, and is going to a spa or bar, or taking an anti-depressant really going to ‘solve the problem’?
It’s pretty clear than something more fundamental needs to change or happen.
But what needs to change?
Are you waiting to be told or do you have an opinion you would like to explore. Leave a comment ... for real :)
Ok, I'll start
ReplyDeleteWe can't change everything, that's impossible, but is something I can change, that in changing, will change everything? Cos if there is, I want to know what it is.
Its not about the need to change everything, but the need to stop controlling everything. I don't think that the victim mentality can comprehend this because it becomes lost and meaningless as soon as you begin to drop the need to control, because we do not control anything, therefore how can you control anything? All one can do is to relax whatever self contraction one is experiencing whether it be fear, anger, depression, frustration or some overwhelming feeling that there's something wrong, and once this has been achieved then you can look to participate from a much more whole-hearted and meaningful perspective that will bring in greater clarity and positive growth to your life.. You cannot blame your contracted state on any outer circumstance or person, it is only you that feels that feeling, and only you who can bring perspective and objectivity to that contracted feeling to dissolve it.
ReplyDeleteIf you change your mindset you can change your life because your behavior is a reflection of your mindset and you can move from a mindset influenced by the feeling that there's something wrong to one of pure enlightenment to a more abundant mindset that recognizes the need to not just sit under a tree smoking a joint watching life pass you by, there is the recognition that you are part of the creative process and that to participate meaningfully means to stay in your enlightened space but you have to come off the mountain to participate, and to add whatever value or relevant skills and talents you are perceived to have.
Hey Simon, what an enlightened response.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that there is something wrong with the way things are, is very different to acknowledging that if we continue behaving as we are, the circumstances we predict will be the circumstances we have to live through. In other words, by saying there is something wrong and responding to that, we actually solidify the eventuality of that happening.
If I let in that in 'now', that my ideas of retirement at age 55 are seriously a thing of the past, and that in all likelihood I will be working until the day I die, or simply can not. If I seriously let that in, how will that change the way I go about making money, looking for a job and developing my business, now.
If I really let it in, then I begin to see the importance of doing what it is that I love doing and is relevant, now. This changes everything.
And in order to do that I do not need to say there is something wrong with the way things are, but rather let in the idea that the context is changing. And although this may cause me to feel uncomfortable, now, if I let it in and remain ok with the feeling of discomfort, my idea's will begin to 'change'. This will in due course reflect in changed behaviour.
Dear Paul,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Simon's response to your question and I also enjoyed your response.
In my opinion just asking these questions goes a long way to bringing a new way forward for all of us to contemplate and respond to.
Hey Mandy
ReplyDeleteYes, contemplation is a very powerful and under-utilized tool. We often feel that everything needs to be followed by action, or a plan or some definitive action. However, if we contemplate and 'let things in', we very often find that the plan, or action or behaviour responds by itself. And mostly when this happens the response is much more appropriate.
Thanks for your feedback