Monday, July 28, 2014

Why Bother Climbing?

"You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again. So why bother in the first place? Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen. There is an art of conducting oneself in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up. When one can no longer see, one can at least still know."

~ Rene' Daumal

Lessons from Geese (The Goose Story)

The lessons to be learned from the geese are certainly applicable to our efforts to make our communities a better place to live and work. The lessons also point out our responsibility to our family, community and to each other.

As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the bird following. By flying in a “V” formation the whole flock adds 71 percent more flying range than if each bird was flying alone.

Lesson No. 1: People who share a common direction and sense of family and community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds immediately in front.

Lesson No. 2: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will join formation with those who are headed where we want to go.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.

Lesson No. 3: It pays to take turns doing tasks and sharing leadership, with people as with geese, interdependent with one another.

The geese that are in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Lesson No. 4: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging not something less helpful.

When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow their fellow member down to help and provide protection. They stay with that goose until he or she is able to fly again or dies. The two geese then launch out to find another formation of geese to fly with until they find their own flock.

Lesson No. 5: If we have as much sense as geese, we’ll stand by one another like they do. We will improve our families, our communities and ourselves by service and bonding with each other.

by Dr. Harry Clarke Noyes, modified by Steven Densley

7 Ways You're Sabotaging Your Happiness

BY AMITA PATEL

I was in a nine-year relationship with a man I loved, but we fought way too much. We couldn't seem to agree on anything as a couple: how to eat, where to live, or even whose turn it was to take out the recycling. Don’t get me wrong, he was my best friend and still is, but we were WRONG for each other, romantically-speaking. Having “invested” all that time, we were convinced we’d get married. But since we weren’t all that compatible, I did what many people try to do: I tried to change him.

Sometimes we think that by controlling things we can control our happiness. Whether we do this by trying to change others, manipulating a situation, or simply denying the truth, we think that the key to happiness is having power over our environment. After all, if things were different, then we’d be happy, right?

You’re dead wrong.

In my life, and in my work with clients, I’ve seen a ga-ba-jillion attempts to gain happiness by going outward instead of in. And without fail, it backfires. Yet we keep doing it because we have more faith in our fear than our truth. Sabotaging our happiness by trying to influence our surroundings is more common than we think. In fact, for most of us, it’s part of our everyday lives:

1. Jealousy

Whether it's in relationships, work, or any other aspect of life, jealousy is less about what the other person has and more about what you perceive you do not. This misplaced anger hurts you more than it helps you to get what you want.

2. Resentment

It might seem like holding onto anger will keep you safe from getting hurt again, but it actually weakens you. Forgiveness is a much stronger and healthier “F-bomb” to drop on those who have wronged you.

3. Dependence

When we rely on others for happiness, we block our ability to give it to ourselves. Your relationships with others should mirror the happiness and self-love you already hold within you.

4. The need to “fix” people

Even if you could change others, you still wouldn’t be happy. Why? Because it’s not them you’re trying to fix. Accept others for where they are in their journey. This doesn’t mean accept all the crap that comes your way. Quite the opposite. If a toxic person is bringing you down, trying to change them would be like swimming with an anchor, you’ll only sink faster. Change what you can control: You. That means adjust your expectations or let them go.

5. Perfectionism

It’s great to strive to do your best, but if your happiness is dependent on the outcome, you’ll set yourself up for disappointment. Nothing is perfect. This symptom of black-and-white thinking is often what holds us back from taking initial action or being happy with the end result.

6. Self-doubt

If you don’t think you can do it, you won’t. Whatever limits you perceive are the ones you’ve placed on yourself. Consciously or unconsciously, it’s a choice.

7. The belief that you’re better

The moment you think you’re above anyone or anything is the moment you prevent yourself from learning. If you think you're done learning, you’re right.

So what gives? Why do we go outward instead of inward? Cause it’s freakin’ scary as hell! Our ego has us convinced that we’re separate, that it’s all a big game of “me against the world.” The problem is that just like a muscle, every time that we address our issues externally instead of internally, we strengthen our belief in fear. The solution is simple: Change what you can, surrender what you can’t, and know the difference.

What can you surrender to start being happy today?

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Jim Carrey: Wise Words From a Funny Man

Jim Carrey is a funny man. But he’s deeply profound, too — a side he revealed to graduates at Maharishi University.

While his entire speech is great, fast-forward to the punch to the heart at 10:18.

Friday, July 11, 2014