Last week I was in Supervalu doing my grocery shopping. I had purchased a washing up brush and had forgotten to put it through. I noticed it and asked the teller to check if I had paid for it. As it turned out I hadn't. But more interestingly it turns out that she had inadvertently overcharged me for some croissants so I was actually due a refund.
That was a pleasant surprise! Somehow when we both admitted we had screwed up...the whole incident took on a much more human flavour....so how merciful can you be to your own (and others) screwups?
Monday, September 7, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
R Google being evil? Simon Ford's "Beating Google Friend Connect" has been pulled
from the YouTube "Search Engine Rankings".
It's not in the 20 pages of search results
http://ping.fm/4y82y
Simon Ford published his second video showing how my first video beat all of Google's 9 videos into 1st place.
If you missed this story read about it here http://ping.fm/m6guT
We got my 2nd video into 11th position within 24 hours of publishing it yesterday. It was flying up through the ranksinto 2nd position, right under our first video at number 1,..then,
out of the blue,..Google pulled it. Gone!
Although flattered Google have had to cheat to beat us at their own game. It's really not good news for any of us, I mean,knowing Google manipulate search results changes life as we know it? What this means is that Google control the worlds information, they don't simply organize it like their adds say. They decide how they display it to us, in what order and what gets cut. This is proof Google choose what we do and don't see.
from the YouTube "Search Engine Rankings".
It's not in the 20 pages of search results
http://ping.fm/4y82y
Simon Ford published his second video showing how my first video beat all of Google's 9 videos into 1st place.
If you missed this story read about it here http://ping.fm/m6guT
We got my 2nd video into 11th position within 24 hours of publishing it yesterday. It was flying up through the ranksinto 2nd position, right under our first video at number 1,..then,
out of the blue,..Google pulled it. Gone!
Although flattered Google have had to cheat to beat us at their own game. It's really not good news for any of us, I mean,knowing Google manipulate search results changes life as we know it? What this means is that Google control the worlds information, they don't simply organize it like their adds say. They decide how they display it to us, in what order and what gets cut. This is proof Google choose what we do and don't see.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Lemons: Life after Loss..your net value is more than your net worth..The call will be recorded and send out so even if you can't make it..you can listen to it afterwards.
"When you have exhausted all the possibilities, remember you haven't". Thomas Edison
You are invited to join Dr. Karen Vizer and Anne Walsh on March 19th at 11AM Pacific time (2PM Eastern time and 6 PM GMT) for this free, insightful, timely, preview call for our teleseminar, "Lemons: Life after Loss".
Your net value is more than your net worth!
We have created this content specifically to help you through these uncertain and challenging times. We know from speaking and meeting people in our circle that while many of you are focused on staying positive and seeking to see this chaotic uncertain time as the precursor to a new positive era, we also know that many of you are impacted by fear, uncertainty and upheaval and our goal is to support you through this. We support you by helping you to locate the lemons in your backyard and using the resources you have to expand your courage beyond your fear.
Sometimes it takes someone else shining a light on what we can't see for us to move forward and realize the benefits and gifts of what we are experiencing. Anne and Karen are your "go to" people for that. Both are gifted coaches who will guide you through this time and show you possibilities and tantalizing prospects you may not be able to see.
We record all of our calls so even if you can't make the preview call you will be able to listen later and get all the benefit as though you were there live with us.
Here's what you get:
Feel safe no matter what is going on
Exchange despair for hope
Learn 5 things you can do today to make things better immediately
Learn how to say NO but doing it so well that your boss or significant other thinks you said yes
Get your power back no matter what your position
Register here: www.karenvizer.com/lifeafterloss.html
"When you have exhausted all the possibilities, remember you haven't". Thomas Edison
You are invited to join Dr. Karen Vizer and Anne Walsh on March 19th at 11AM Pacific time (2PM Eastern time and 6 PM GMT) for this free, insightful, timely, preview call for our teleseminar, "Lemons: Life after Loss".
Your net value is more than your net worth!
We have created this content specifically to help you through these uncertain and challenging times. We know from speaking and meeting people in our circle that while many of you are focused on staying positive and seeking to see this chaotic uncertain time as the precursor to a new positive era, we also know that many of you are impacted by fear, uncertainty and upheaval and our goal is to support you through this. We support you by helping you to locate the lemons in your backyard and using the resources you have to expand your courage beyond your fear.
Sometimes it takes someone else shining a light on what we can't see for us to move forward and realize the benefits and gifts of what we are experiencing. Anne and Karen are your "go to" people for that. Both are gifted coaches who will guide you through this time and show you possibilities and tantalizing prospects you may not be able to see.
We record all of our calls so even if you can't make the preview call you will be able to listen later and get all the benefit as though you were there live with us.
Here's what you get:
Feel safe no matter what is going on
Exchange despair for hope
Learn 5 things you can do today to make things better immediately
Learn how to say NO but doing it so well that your boss or significant other thinks you said yes
Get your power back no matter what your position
Register here: www.karenvizer.com/lifeafterloss.html
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
TIMBEERRR! Did you know that the rate of deforestation in the world is 149 acres per minute. #EarthDay, #STiAbout 137 species become extinct every day. If the current rate of deforestation continues, the world’s rain forests will vanish in less than 100 years. For every tree that is cut, the numbers get more and more shocking.
As the population grows this should give us more reason to preserve trees and forests as much as possible. They balance oxygen levels, combat the environmental negativities, support wild life, enrich the surrounding areas, green the system.
Another sadly astounding fact that I recently came across was that if you clear forest lands for farming areas, its soil only stays fertile for two years. After 2 years that land becomes barren and uncultivable. What is the logic behind pulling down entire forests for those 2 years worth of cultivation?
There are some societies that have taken this one issue as their driving source. They are providing re-plantation services for reviving rainforest lands with timber and other forestation trees. Basically they buy back those lands and prepare it for turning into forests. They revive and enliven the area for wild life and plants.
There are a number of such initiatives budding around us. Sites like “the new green economy” and “tree hugger” have formed trusts where people can contribute to this cause. So essentially you would be “buying” those lands back from the deforestation committees and letting the intermediary website to reforest it on your behalf. If you pay money for reforestation, you could indirectly own your own piece of forest land.
Now that’s definitely something tangible. With many such initiatives in the radar – I think we can find a great way of giving our mother earth a birthday present this April. We can collectively raise money for buying a present that will help make a difference and not just be a speck in the huge pile of global contributions.
It’s wonderful because we’re already planning the earth’s biggest birthday party for April 22nd. Our evangelists have begun promoting the day already. Our leadership group has begun implementing their plans. All we need now is a gift that the earth will appreciate.
Perhaps acquiring property to reforest barren lands is one way to go. Or we can choose from any charity of the social traffic community’s choice and preference. After all, if we all contribute then it is our money – we need to have a say in what happens to it.
If we just let go of a small thing in our expenses for a month, say skip on a haircut or skip on a business dinner – we can give that money to a reputable trust to keep, until it is time to spend it on the birthday gift. It doesn’t matter how big or small the contribution is – it can be as small as avoiding a monthly visit to the barber worth $25 (or even smaller). What matters more is how much we can make collectively. I always tell my friends that if 1 million people all contribute $1 for a cause that makes it $1 mill.
We will need to raise money far and wide and get people to contribute to it. Perhaps we should also come up with some nice videos to help spread the word. I think our community ambassador Phil can handle that rather well. What do you say, Phil?
(Note written by Simon U Ford)
As the population grows this should give us more reason to preserve trees and forests as much as possible. They balance oxygen levels, combat the environmental negativities, support wild life, enrich the surrounding areas, green the system.
Another sadly astounding fact that I recently came across was that if you clear forest lands for farming areas, its soil only stays fertile for two years. After 2 years that land becomes barren and uncultivable. What is the logic behind pulling down entire forests for those 2 years worth of cultivation?
There are some societies that have taken this one issue as their driving source. They are providing re-plantation services for reviving rainforest lands with timber and other forestation trees. Basically they buy back those lands and prepare it for turning into forests. They revive and enliven the area for wild life and plants.
There are a number of such initiatives budding around us. Sites like “the new green economy” and “tree hugger” have formed trusts where people can contribute to this cause. So essentially you would be “buying” those lands back from the deforestation committees and letting the intermediary website to reforest it on your behalf. If you pay money for reforestation, you could indirectly own your own piece of forest land.
Now that’s definitely something tangible. With many such initiatives in the radar – I think we can find a great way of giving our mother earth a birthday present this April. We can collectively raise money for buying a present that will help make a difference and not just be a speck in the huge pile of global contributions.
It’s wonderful because we’re already planning the earth’s biggest birthday party for April 22nd. Our evangelists have begun promoting the day already. Our leadership group has begun implementing their plans. All we need now is a gift that the earth will appreciate.
Perhaps acquiring property to reforest barren lands is one way to go. Or we can choose from any charity of the social traffic community’s choice and preference. After all, if we all contribute then it is our money – we need to have a say in what happens to it.
If we just let go of a small thing in our expenses for a month, say skip on a haircut or skip on a business dinner – we can give that money to a reputable trust to keep, until it is time to spend it on the birthday gift. It doesn’t matter how big or small the contribution is – it can be as small as avoiding a monthly visit to the barber worth $25 (or even smaller). What matters more is how much we can make collectively. I always tell my friends that if 1 million people all contribute $1 for a cause that makes it $1 mill.
We will need to raise money far and wide and get people to contribute to it. Perhaps we should also come up with some nice videos to help spread the word. I think our community ambassador Phil can handle that rather well. What do you say, Phil?
(Note written by Simon U Ford)
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Is what you are imbibing inspiring you or requiring you? The Memetic environment
The Memetic environment is everything you are watching, reading , believing and listening to. It has been estimated that we have about 604,800 thoughts per day (http://ping.fm/WPBKX ) and that it has been found that (surprisingly, NOT!) that depression is linked to uncontrolled negative thoughts (http://ping.fm/qFK9h) . So this environment is a key part of nurturing optimum mental health. Karen Vizer has already written about the Physical environment and the importance of eating good food and using extreme self care. (http://ping.fm/1lenu
My favourite story about this is the man who decided he was going to ask his neighbour for a lawn mower. However, his thoughts began to spiral into a long story about the last time he met his neighbour and how he seemed distant and then he thought of the times his neighbour had delayed returning equipment to him and he found himself getting angrier and angrier. Eventually he got up, walked purposefully over to his neighbour’s house and rang the door bell. When his neighbour answered the door, he shouted at him “you can keep your ****ing lawnmower” and stormed off. And I know I can certainly identify with that story (although I usually stop myself before I go to my neighbour’s house!).
So structuring and tweaking this environment to support us is a really key part in our overall sense of happiness and well being. So how can we design this environment to support and inspire us?
1. Spend some time identifying and observing what you are actually allowing into your headspace. And ask yourself what is the overall impact on your own sense of well being? I was on a call recently and one of the participants described how she was feeling good and then watched the news and found herself feeling agitated and wondering if her optimism was actually completely misplaced! I have noticed that when I occasionally watch the news (my husband is a bit of a news junkie) that I feel as though I have put on a hairy jumper (sweater) next to my skin. It feels jumpy and yucky...so my way of handling it is with humour. I find myself giggling at the obvious relish with which commentators dish up endless servings of gloom and doom. Strong echoes of Eeyore http://ping.fm/n2wg7(Winnie_the_Pooh) .
2. What inspires you and fills you with joy? For example we have a bird feeder outside the window of our dining room and I have to say that watching those tiny creatures brings me into the present and out of the yada, yada, yada of my monkey mind. So what inspires you and how can you bring more of it into your space?
3. Disconnect from the mass media. Remember that the news is just one group’s version of reality, despite the urgency and drama of the presentation. In a recent Social Traffic broadcast (http://ping.fm/3lnoX ) Philip A. Gornail made a point that he now checked his news on the Internet rather than TV/radio. If you feel as though you must know what is going on...just check the Internet rather than listen to the mass media. And as Tim Ferris (www.timferris.com ) points out...the chances are that we will hear about anything really major anyway. I endeavour to follow this myself but I have to say that one of my own questions about this is does this mean that I choose to remain oblivious to the suffering and pain in the world? I am deeply aware from my friends in Africa and around the world that there are still many places with none of the basics (we in the west) take for granted. The way I have chosen to deal with this is: (a) I acknowledge that simply watching suffering on TV and in the media overwhelms and paralyses me (b) I identify small changes I can make in my own life e.g. I’ve recently become a vegetarian again after 13 years, we recycle as much as possible and I make regular contributions to charities that I believe really empowers its population (c) I’m part of Social Traffic (www.socialtraffic.biz ) which is seeking to really heighten awareness of this magnificent jewel we are living in..Mother Earth.
4. Use your MP3 player to download and listen to positive material that inspires and supports you. There are huge amounts of material available free of charge or for a very reasonable fee (www.blogtalkradio.com or www.hayhouseradio.com or www.zencast.com are three great examples) Use the time in your car or when you are exercising to feed your mind with good stuff. There is another great resource at www.learnoutloud.com Or just create playlists of your favourite music.
5. Identify what is draining you about your thoughts. Here is a suggested way. Notice how you feel after watching/reading/believing certain materials. Just observe the aftermath. Notice if it’s positive or negative. Don’t judge it. (You are in good company here. St. Ignatius of Loyola (http://ping.fm/pybV9 ) used this method to notice that he felt better after reading lives of saints than after reading other material.) Begin to gradually introduce more of the “positive aftermath” materials into your environment and you will notice that your attraction to the “negative aftermath” stuff will diminish. Another powerful way is to simply write your thoughts in longhand as they come up...there is something really empowering about getting that endless replay out of your head onto paper...and it does start to repeat itself after a while.
6. Hang out with people who inspire you. Why not join us at the Social Traffic Facebook group? It’s got great resources inspiring people and you will get to learn loads.
7. And of course I have to mention what I consider to be a great tool for helping shift thought patterns that keep us stuck...consciousness shifting (But then I would, wouldn’t I ? )
If you are curious about environments and want to learn more, you can listen to a recording of a call Karen Vizer and I did (http://ping.fm/AuHud )about environments. We are also planning something juicy around this as well…watch this space..
The Memetic environment is everything you are watching, reading , believing and listening to. It has been estimated that we have about 604,800 thoughts per day (http://ping.fm/WPBKX ) and that it has been found that (surprisingly, NOT!) that depression is linked to uncontrolled negative thoughts (http://ping.fm/qFK9h) . So this environment is a key part of nurturing optimum mental health. Karen Vizer has already written about the Physical environment and the importance of eating good food and using extreme self care. (http://ping.fm/1lenu
My favourite story about this is the man who decided he was going to ask his neighbour for a lawn mower. However, his thoughts began to spiral into a long story about the last time he met his neighbour and how he seemed distant and then he thought of the times his neighbour had delayed returning equipment to him and he found himself getting angrier and angrier. Eventually he got up, walked purposefully over to his neighbour’s house and rang the door bell. When his neighbour answered the door, he shouted at him “you can keep your ****ing lawnmower” and stormed off. And I know I can certainly identify with that story (although I usually stop myself before I go to my neighbour’s house!).
So structuring and tweaking this environment to support us is a really key part in our overall sense of happiness and well being. So how can we design this environment to support and inspire us?
1. Spend some time identifying and observing what you are actually allowing into your headspace. And ask yourself what is the overall impact on your own sense of well being? I was on a call recently and one of the participants described how she was feeling good and then watched the news and found herself feeling agitated and wondering if her optimism was actually completely misplaced! I have noticed that when I occasionally watch the news (my husband is a bit of a news junkie) that I feel as though I have put on a hairy jumper (sweater) next to my skin. It feels jumpy and yucky...so my way of handling it is with humour. I find myself giggling at the obvious relish with which commentators dish up endless servings of gloom and doom. Strong echoes of Eeyore http://ping.fm/n2wg7(Winnie_the_Pooh) .
2. What inspires you and fills you with joy? For example we have a bird feeder outside the window of our dining room and I have to say that watching those tiny creatures brings me into the present and out of the yada, yada, yada of my monkey mind. So what inspires you and how can you bring more of it into your space?
3. Disconnect from the mass media. Remember that the news is just one group’s version of reality, despite the urgency and drama of the presentation. In a recent Social Traffic broadcast (http://ping.fm/3lnoX ) Philip A. Gornail made a point that he now checked his news on the Internet rather than TV/radio. If you feel as though you must know what is going on...just check the Internet rather than listen to the mass media. And as Tim Ferris (www.timferris.com ) points out...the chances are that we will hear about anything really major anyway. I endeavour to follow this myself but I have to say that one of my own questions about this is does this mean that I choose to remain oblivious to the suffering and pain in the world? I am deeply aware from my friends in Africa and around the world that there are still many places with none of the basics (we in the west) take for granted. The way I have chosen to deal with this is: (a) I acknowledge that simply watching suffering on TV and in the media overwhelms and paralyses me (b) I identify small changes I can make in my own life e.g. I’ve recently become a vegetarian again after 13 years, we recycle as much as possible and I make regular contributions to charities that I believe really empowers its population (c) I’m part of Social Traffic (www.socialtraffic.biz ) which is seeking to really heighten awareness of this magnificent jewel we are living in..Mother Earth.
4. Use your MP3 player to download and listen to positive material that inspires and supports you. There are huge amounts of material available free of charge or for a very reasonable fee (www.blogtalkradio.com or www.hayhouseradio.com or www.zencast.com are three great examples) Use the time in your car or when you are exercising to feed your mind with good stuff. There is another great resource at www.learnoutloud.com Or just create playlists of your favourite music.
5. Identify what is draining you about your thoughts. Here is a suggested way. Notice how you feel after watching/reading/believing certain materials. Just observe the aftermath. Notice if it’s positive or negative. Don’t judge it. (You are in good company here. St. Ignatius of Loyola (http://ping.fm/pybV9 ) used this method to notice that he felt better after reading lives of saints than after reading other material.) Begin to gradually introduce more of the “positive aftermath” materials into your environment and you will notice that your attraction to the “negative aftermath” stuff will diminish. Another powerful way is to simply write your thoughts in longhand as they come up...there is something really empowering about getting that endless replay out of your head onto paper...and it does start to repeat itself after a while.
6. Hang out with people who inspire you. Why not join us at the Social Traffic Facebook group? It’s got great resources inspiring people and you will get to learn loads.
7. And of course I have to mention what I consider to be a great tool for helping shift thought patterns that keep us stuck...consciousness shifting (But then I would, wouldn’t I ? )
If you are curious about environments and want to learn more, you can listen to a recording of a call Karen Vizer and I did (http://ping.fm/AuHud )about environments. We are also planning something juicy around this as well…watch this space..
Friday, February 20, 2009
I wish you a day in which you lower your standards.
Forget your taxes, your fears, your not enoughs or haven't yets.
Throw a Mardi Gras party for your enormous heart.
Plant a seed for a stranger with your grin.
And mostly, watch a day unfold you will always be proud of because you were utterly and extremely and blazingly you. Comfort wishes from Jennifer Louden..enjoy!
Forget your taxes, your fears, your not enoughs or haven't yets.
Throw a Mardi Gras party for your enormous heart.
Plant a seed for a stranger with your grin.
And mostly, watch a day unfold you will always be proud of because you were utterly and extremely and blazingly you. Comfort wishes from Jennifer Louden..enjoy!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Personal Freedom e-course...totally free! Set boundaries: Learn how to say No gracefully. Teach people to treat you well. Share your requirements: Learn how to get what you want
Raise your standards: Begin to ask for more. Don't settle for less. You deserve more
Define success on your terms: How will you know you are being successful?
Complete what is unfinished: If you have lots of unfinished projects, unsorted relationships, they are all blocking you from your great life and your best self. Learn how to get them sorted.
Orient around your values: This will help in your own personal value development
Just sign up for Bring your best self to light at www.annewalshcoach.com
Raise your standards: Begin to ask for more. Don't settle for less. You deserve more
Define success on your terms: How will you know you are being successful?
Complete what is unfinished: If you have lots of unfinished projects, unsorted relationships, they are all blocking you from your great life and your best self. Learn how to get them sorted.
Orient around your values: This will help in your own personal value development
Just sign up for Bring your best self to light at www.annewalshcoach.com
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
The Nature environment or ragwort, flowers and why there are no live fat flying birds...
I was supposed to write this note yesterday but found that when I sat down to write it, I found myself feeling bored and restless and what I wrote was rubbish. So I decided to leave it and found myself awake at 4.30 am buzzing with ideas about this piece. This incident brought me up smack against one of the first things we can observe about Nature.
Things have timing
By and large all organisms have their own time line...whether we like it or not and generally our life goes more smoothly when we honour that. So what project have you got that you find yourself struggling with? Does the time structure you have decided should fit with it actually reflect its reality. It's great to say write a book in 90 days but is the reality for YOU that it's more like 90 weeks...and that's what it will take for you to do the work that truly reflects your intention?
Where's your pride?
Are you hanging out with lions or donkeys? Or who is in your herd?
There are few things lonelier than hanging out with the wrong herd. And few things more reassuring and comforting than finding those people that you say to (a lá CS Lewis) "what, you too!". But that means first of all admitting that you are in the wrong herd for you...and secondly identifying where you can find your herd (or what Martha Beck calls "your team"). So where can you find more like minded people to hang out with? This doesn't mean you won't mix with other species...but you'll have a place to go when you need to just be a lion instead of a donkey.
Ragwort is toxic for horses but they don't go on about it.
Ragwort is a toxic weed for horses (but not for all animals) but horses just avoid eating it unless there is absolutely nothing else. They usually don't go around wringing their hands (or hooves) wishing ragwort would change or raging against their own digestive system because it's poisonous for them. They just don't eat it. What ragwort do you need to stop eating ?
Don't just grow, evolve. Or move from leaf to flower .
In the opening pages of Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth" he describes the evolution of the first flower and how flowers have inspired humans ever since. So if you have an ongoing struggle/stuckness in an aspect of your life or business...what would be a totally new direction to take it in? Instead of growing more leaves...what would a bloom look like? For example, Henry Ford didn't invent a faster horse, he came up with the motor car which still has the shadow its origins as a horse carriage
There are no (live) fat flying birds
We have a bird feeder outside our kitchen window and I love watching all the different species show up and watching how they even eat differently. Sparrows seem to have a feeding frenzy and then disappear. The blue tits come, fastidiously take one seed and fly off. Finches let the sparrows do all the work and then pick the seeds off the ground. None of these birds are fat though. Flying is very energy intensive but must be balanced with having a body that's light enough to lift. So what do you need to do less of in order to fly?
Surprising fuel sources
The land where I live is very boggy and acidic and one of the plants that has evolved to thrive in this environment is the Venus fly trap. This plant cannot get sustenance from the usual source i.e. soil so it has evolved to get nourishment from what comes into its orbit i.e. flies. So if you can't get the fuel you need now...what would be a surprising source?
If your work was a star, what would it look like light years from now?
One of the things that fascinates me about the stars is that they are so far away that the light we are seeing from them now left thousands of light years ago. In fact those stars might already have exploded by the time we see them. We are constantly reaping the benefits of work done by people hundreds of years ago (many of them are anonymous). Witness our churches, great buildings, beautiful clothes, works of art, literature, the technology we depend on. These wonderful things evolved from the work of people who came before them. So if you were doing work that you intended to last for thousands of years, even if it's anonymous..what would you do differently or the same?
So my challenge to you this week is take a problem to Nature. If you have something that you are stuck on, why not just park it and look to Nature for inspiration. It may be that you can't get out to spend time in a forest...but you could always watch the Discovery Channel or David Attenborough...:-)
Last week I wrote about the financial environment Financial environmentand Karen Vizer wrote about the
Environment of Self . We will be writing about the other environments over the coming weeks.
If you would like to hear a recording that gives an overview of all the environments we have identified.
Check this out: http://ping.fm/AuHud
10 environments recording
Thanks for your time and as always, comments, suggestions and observations are most welcome!
I was supposed to write this note yesterday but found that when I sat down to write it, I found myself feeling bored and restless and what I wrote was rubbish. So I decided to leave it and found myself awake at 4.30 am buzzing with ideas about this piece. This incident brought me up smack against one of the first things we can observe about Nature.
Things have timing
By and large all organisms have their own time line...whether we like it or not and generally our life goes more smoothly when we honour that. So what project have you got that you find yourself struggling with? Does the time structure you have decided should fit with it actually reflect its reality. It's great to say write a book in 90 days but is the reality for YOU that it's more like 90 weeks...and that's what it will take for you to do the work that truly reflects your intention?
Where's your pride?
Are you hanging out with lions or donkeys? Or who is in your herd?
There are few things lonelier than hanging out with the wrong herd. And few things more reassuring and comforting than finding those people that you say to (a lá CS Lewis) "what, you too!". But that means first of all admitting that you are in the wrong herd for you...and secondly identifying where you can find your herd (or what Martha Beck calls "your team"). So where can you find more like minded people to hang out with? This doesn't mean you won't mix with other species...but you'll have a place to go when you need to just be a lion instead of a donkey.
Ragwort is toxic for horses but they don't go on about it.
Ragwort is a toxic weed for horses (but not for all animals) but horses just avoid eating it unless there is absolutely nothing else. They usually don't go around wringing their hands (or hooves) wishing ragwort would change or raging against their own digestive system because it's poisonous for them. They just don't eat it. What ragwort do you need to stop eating ?
Don't just grow, evolve. Or move from leaf to flower .
In the opening pages of Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth" he describes the evolution of the first flower and how flowers have inspired humans ever since. So if you have an ongoing struggle/stuckness in an aspect of your life or business...what would be a totally new direction to take it in? Instead of growing more leaves...what would a bloom look like? For example, Henry Ford didn't invent a faster horse, he came up with the motor car which still has the shadow its origins as a horse carriage
There are no (live) fat flying birds
We have a bird feeder outside our kitchen window and I love watching all the different species show up and watching how they even eat differently. Sparrows seem to have a feeding frenzy and then disappear. The blue tits come, fastidiously take one seed and fly off. Finches let the sparrows do all the work and then pick the seeds off the ground. None of these birds are fat though. Flying is very energy intensive but must be balanced with having a body that's light enough to lift. So what do you need to do less of in order to fly?
Surprising fuel sources
The land where I live is very boggy and acidic and one of the plants that has evolved to thrive in this environment is the Venus fly trap. This plant cannot get sustenance from the usual source i.e. soil so it has evolved to get nourishment from what comes into its orbit i.e. flies. So if you can't get the fuel you need now...what would be a surprising source?
If your work was a star, what would it look like light years from now?
One of the things that fascinates me about the stars is that they are so far away that the light we are seeing from them now left thousands of light years ago. In fact those stars might already have exploded by the time we see them. We are constantly reaping the benefits of work done by people hundreds of years ago (many of them are anonymous). Witness our churches, great buildings, beautiful clothes, works of art, literature, the technology we depend on. These wonderful things evolved from the work of people who came before them. So if you were doing work that you intended to last for thousands of years, even if it's anonymous..what would you do differently or the same?
So my challenge to you this week is take a problem to Nature. If you have something that you are stuck on, why not just park it and look to Nature for inspiration. It may be that you can't get out to spend time in a forest...but you could always watch the Discovery Channel or David Attenborough...:-)
Last week I wrote about the financial environment Financial environmentand Karen Vizer wrote about the
Environment of Self . We will be writing about the other environments over the coming weeks.
If you would like to hear a recording that gives an overview of all the environments we have identified.
Check this out: http://ping.fm/AuHud
10 environments recording
Thanks for your time and as always, comments, suggestions and observations are most welcome!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
When in doubt, show up early. Think less. Feel more. Ask once. Give thanks often. Expect the best. Appreciate everything. Never give up. Make it fun. Lead. Invent. Regroup. Wink. Chill. Smile. And live as if your success was inevitable, and so it shall be.
Happy global domination,
The Universe (www.tut.com)
Happy global domination,
The Universe (www.tut.com)
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
A powerful recipe...
A GREAT RECIPE...
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It
is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about
what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My
purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________'
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that
is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan
salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues
of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead
invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a
college kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument.
Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years,
will this matter?'
17. Be more forgiving.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends
will. Stay in touch!!!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I
am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.
You'll be smiling before you know it.
A GREAT RECIPE...
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It
is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about
what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My
purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________'
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that
is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan
salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues
of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead
invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a
college kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument.
Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years,
will this matter?'
17. Be more forgiving.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends
will. Stay in touch!!!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I
am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.
You'll be smiling before you know it.
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