This past weekend a friend and I spent a weekend in the Napa Valley in Northern California. We meet about three times a year with no agenda or reservations. The weekend unfolds as it unfolds. This weekend we were led to a conversation involving the Law of Intentionality. Which states, “you want what you have in your life.”

For example, if you are in job you hate, you would rather have it than leave for something else–whatever the reason might be. If you are in an ongoing dysfunctional relationship, then that relationship is preferable to leaving it. And the list goes on and on, such as work-life balance, an unsuccessful career, under performing in school, etc. In essence, “you create your reality” more than you acknowledge to yourself.

Our conversations extended to groups. Are African Americans doing enough to help themselves? Is a position of victimization going to serve our best interests in the long run–irrespective of whatever wrongdoings have been done in the past? As America progresses at and accelerated rate, are we keeping pace? What are the consequences of being left behind? And most of all, is our own mind-set our greatest deterrent? How would we behave if we assumed 100% responsibility for our collective condition in the U.S?

We also discussed other groups. How would the state of racism transform if majority individuals admitted the racial bias and discrimination are active, alive, and practiced in every aspect of American society? How would the polarization that exists change if we truly began the process of cultural integration instead of cultural assimilation? What would happen if we created a “tipping point” of diversity by those in power?

These are a few of the questions we explored. We did decide that if humans are committed to their continued existence on this planet we call Earth, then we are going to have to begin asking, dialoguing, and acting on very, very, uncomfortable questions. I emphasize again, tipping points are never started by appointed leadership. They start because of the concern of people right where they are within the sphere they influence. The multiplying factor will take care of itself if there is sufficient public concern.

At the conclusion, we discussed the possibility of putting together “An African-American Leadership Retreat” focused on transforming the context of our approach to change rather than a content-oriented approach. The question we were left with is could we attract enough participants to attend? The number we had in mind is 20-25 participants. What do you think?

This past weekend a friend and I spent a weekend in the Napa Valley in Northern California. We meet about three times a year with no agenda or reservations. The weekend unfolds as it unfolds. This weekend we were led to a conversation involving the Law of Intentionality. Which states, “you want what you have in your life.”

For example, if you are in job you hate, you would rather have it than leave for something else–whatever the reason might be. If you are in an ongoing dysfunctional relationship, then that relationship is preferable to leaving it. And the list goes on and on, such as work-life balance, an unsuccessful career, under performing in school, etc. In essence, “you create your reality” more than you acknowledge to yourself.

Our conversations extended to groups. Are African Americans doing enough to help themselves? Is a position of victimization going to serve our best interests in the long run–irrespective of whatever wrongdoings have been done in the past? As America progresses at and accelerated rate, are we keeping pace? What are the consequences of being left behind? And most of all, is our own mind-set our greatest deterrent? How would we behave if we assumed 100% responsibility for our collective condition in the U.S?

We also discussed other groups. How would the state of racism transform if majority individuals admitted the racial bias and discrimination are active, alive, and practiced in every aspect of American society? How would the polarization that exists change if we truly began the process of cultural integration instead of cultural assimilation? What would happen if we created a “tipping point” of diversity by those in power?

These are a few of the questions we explored. We did decide that if humans are committed to their continued existence on this planet we call Earth, then we are going to have to begin asking, dialoguing, and acting on very, very, uncomfortable questions. I emphasize again, tipping points are never started by appointed leadership. They start because of the concern of people right where they are within the sphere they influence. The multiplying factor will take care of itself if there is sufficient public concern.

At the conclusion, we discussed the possibility of putting together “An African-American Leadership Retreat” focused on transforming the context of our approach to change rather than a content-oriented approach. The question we were left with is could we attract enough participants to attend? The number we had in mind is 20-25 participants. What do you think?

Three significant events happened to me this past weekend. In retrospect, I can see they are are all related. They have helped me to refocus on my defined life purpose: which is to create a humanly compatible planet. This purpose has been an active part of my life through my twenty-five years of diversity work. The driving-force of this work, all along, has been my continual learning about the power of spirituality as the essential source for creating this vision.

The first event was a meeting with five of my dearest business friends. We met to try to understand how the business environment is changing and its impact on our businesses. The more we talked, the more I experienced increasing anxiety about what we are selling as a business. The anxiety gave way to fear and I began thinking about creating the next gimmick that could be popular and profitable, but having no direct connection to my purpose. The reason I call it a gimmick is that the diving motivation was trying to figure out what people would be attracted to and buy in great quantity, rather than would it lead to greater human compatibility. Even while thinking through the process, I could feel something flawed about my motivation. I can see now that my motivation was driven out of scarcity, profit, and a lack of faith in myself that by staying the course, the path would reveal itself.

The second event is conversations with my daughters. These always tend to create an easy environment of in-depth sharing. First, I feel I can tell them anything that’s on my mind. Second, they ask questions for greater clarification that inevitably lead to greater introspection on my part. Or I simply perceive that greater depth is where the real answers are. So, I picked the right moment to say to them, “Remember, always be true to yourself. Be sure to do what you truly love in your life. Whatever you need will follow.” One of them asked, “Like what?” I said, “Like trying to make the world better or treating someone nice who might be having a hard day or doing what your heart tells you when you feel confused.” But most of all, remember that what you do is telling the world something about who you are as a person. And that is what the world remembers most. At that moment, I realize that I am not only talking about myself, but I have two incredible facilitators.

Now to the dream. Last night I had a vivid dream of four people, each having a role in bringing about a compatible planet. All four had different roles to play and all four were experiencing different degrees of anxiety and fear. As I focused on my role there were three pieces in place and a fourth piece missing. No matter how hard I tried by “doing things” nothing clarified the missing part. I felt very frustrated. I finally gave up trying to figure out the fourth piece and slept through the night. When I awakened this morning, I had an overwhelming feeling the fourth piece is there but I still cannot consciously see it. I also know that sometime in the next day or so, it will appear to me from “the blue nowhere.” By the way, I’m sure the dram was triggered by a movie my daughters and I watched last night titled, “the Girl in the Cafe.”

I am equally certain that these three events are not accidental, but all a connected sequence to serve as a course correction for me to refocus on my self-defined purpose–which is spiritually sourced.

Bill

For Easter Sunday, I thought I would revisit the subject of service. What does it mean to serve others, from a spiritual perspective? I have a friend whose brother was an alcoholic. He devoted a great deal of time and energy trying to make his brother sober, as a way of life. When his brother visited, he hid liquor in the house. He constantly monitored his brother’s activities. He tried to keep his brother in sight at all times. And most of all, he felt it was his duty to use whatever resources he had for his brother’s conversion to be like others who were non-alcoholic.

He convinced his brother to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. When his brother returned from the the meeting, he stated, ” I hate going to those meetings, it’s like looking at myself.” For some reason, a light went on in my friend’s head. The statement appeared to be true about him also. He realized that his pilgrimage to save his brother was really driven by a fear within himself of his own potential to become an “active alcoholic.” He realized that he was a “latent alcoholic.” And given the right circumstances, he could also become active.

Following this line of thinking, he had a further realization. If alcoholism is basically an addiction, then he was an alcoholic in several areas of his own life with his wife, children, and friends. But what all those areas had in common was his need to be accepted in spite of his short comings as a person. He realized he was just like his brother that he was trying to save. His desperate act of conversion was really his own personal transformation. Such a transformation leaves one humbled and respectful of the struggles of others, which is wisdom; an in-depth understanding, empathy, and compassion for the human condition.

Now my friend was ready to serve. Service, from a spiritual perspective, requires a “rite of passage.” That rite of passage establishes the context for service. This context begins an “unconditional acceptance” of others exactly as they are. There is no “need” to make them better as defined by one’s own criteria or condition. There is no necessity for someone else’s conversion. If so, the act is not service but manipulation to cover one’s own uncertainty or deficiency.

Spiritually-driven service is the natural expression of human participation in life based upon an inner prompting to contribute to the well being of others. The context for this expression is

Empathy–the true caring and understanding of another’s path as if it were your own.

Compassion–the unconditional acceptance of another’s chosen path; and where appropriate, have them realize their potential for change.

Humility–the realization of your own equality with others regardless of their condition or station in life.

Love–the realization of your interconnectedness with others as one.

And most of all, remember you are saving yourself!

Happy Easter,
Bill

Good morning to all of you out there!

Today I want to share, what a very good, close, friend was telling me:Focus on your relationships, not to the world. You’re like a stone thrown into the water. If you throw a stone into your pond you’ll see the waves it’ll make. There are circles getting bigger and bigger. That’s how you’re acting in your relationships. You don’t have to see or feel a change. But there is one.

And live your life out of your “inner brain” not with your head. Listen to your feelings. If there is a sudden feeling, listen to it.This inner brain is not influenced by the way you’re brought up. During growing up you forgot about acting out of your heard, your feelings, your inner brain. You’ve started thinking, and you’ve started weighing up: If I do that -what may happen? Will I be doing good? And you’ve been captured in a net. You’ve lived your life, creating an new one. A life that’s called:

How others want me to be. Just return listening to your inner brain. And by the time you’ll become centered, you’ll know what to do and for all that you’re taking responsibility. ’cause it’s YOU.

I’m sure, this is the way we all should go on. Focussing on ourselves, being a change in the world. Would be great if I could give you some words to discus about.

Looking to hear from you.
Ulla

Hi,

We are responsible to all the things that ARE GOING ON.

We can change “thoughts”. the world will be the result of our actions.

Pay attention! Collective conscience. Lets think in peace, and happiness for all the world everyday at 6 a.m. ? Together, and once a week let us talk about our feelings in here?

I am only making a suggestion!

Hugs for all
From Brazil