Posts Tagged ‘soul’
Let the world look at you. I assure you, the world will like what it sees.
Posted April 26, 2010
on:Gratitude or selfishness?
When I first encountered the idea of a gratitude diary, I was discountenanced by feeling grateful for things like . . . well, my coffee. I suspected greed, not gratitude.
Once I started using a diary, then I realised that I was often thankful for the meals I had had that day. I am grateful for a homemade soup, for example. but am I grateful just because I could have been out all day and been subjected to junk food? Partly. Yet when I feel grateful for soup, I never simultaneously think of the disgusting fare served up as food up-and-down the arterial transport spokes. I am think of much I appreciate a well made home made soup. I experience pleasure not gluttony.
In short, I experience me.
This still seems selfish, doesn’t it? But it is my job to see me. It is my job to appreciate who I am.
The funny thing is that we cannot see who we are, or appreciate who we, are except in the eyes of the world. It is when I reach out to some thing I value and treasure, when I recognize what is good in the world, that I recognize the good in me.
Khalil Gibran talks of adventuring a path and meeting the soul. Not a soul. The soul.
David Whyte talks of the universe taking its ball home too, when we get up and take our ball home. He points out that universe is not punishing us. It is just that without “the faculties of attention, there is nothing to be found.”
We are what we are grateful for
We are what we are grateful for. It’s a simple as that. When we remind ourselves of what we truly appreciate, we remind ourselves of ourselves. We are validated. We belong.
But because we are simple folk and all these word feel like mental contortions, we can listen rather to the words of Mr Chips’ fellow teacher.
“I found that when I stopped judging myself harshly, the world became kinder to me. Remember I told you once, go out, and look around the world. Do that now. Only this time, let the world look at you. And the difference, I assure you, the world will like what it sees.”
Only this time, let the world look at you. I assure you, the world will like what it sees.
Posted February 16, 2010
on:Why have managers ignored the poets for so long?
Contemporary English poet David Whyte
David Whyte uses contemporary language to talk about the essential ontological question of management, work, organizations and successful business.
When he takes his ball home, the universe takes its ball home too . . .
Far too often, our remedies for this world involve sulking. Like an aggrieved child in a playground, we pick up our ball and go home. We don’t address the lack of respect that sent us into a spin.
Persian poet, Khalil Gibran
Poets through the ages tell us that we find meaning and satisfaction through action, not inaction. Through engagement, not withdrawal.
Yesterday, I posted an excerpt on self-knowledge from Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet. He says it too.
We don’t find our bliss by staying in. We find our bliss by setting out on a path. And on that path we don’t meet our soul. We meet the soul.
It also matters little which path we follow. Many lead paths to the soul. What matters is that we travel the path. What matters is that we set out. What matters is that we adventure a path.
We will recognize the soul on the way because it will recognize us. And we recognize ourselves, we acquire self-knowledge, when the soul says good day.
Goodbye Mr Chips
Similar lines were said in the iconic movie, Goodbye Mr Chips, by the German teacher to the gawky, awkward Englishman.
“I found that when I stopped judging myself harshly, the world became kinder to me. Remember I told you once, go out, and look around the world. Do that now. Only this time, let the world look at you. And the difference, I assure you, the world will like what it sees.”
Only this time, let the world look at you. I assure you, the world will like what it sees.
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Self-Knowledge XVII
And a man said, “Speak to us of Self-Knowledge.”
And he answered, saying:
Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.
But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart’s knowledge.
You would know in words that which you have always know in thought.
You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams.
And it is well you should.
The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea;
And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes.
But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure;
And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line.
For self is a sea boundless and measureless.
Say not, “I have found the truth,” but rather, “I have found a truth.”
Say not, “I have found the path of the soul.” Say rather, “I have met the soul walking upon my path.”
For the soul walks upon all paths.
The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.
The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.
Khalil Gibran
No 1 Ladies Detective Agency
Posted December 23, 2008
on:- Image via Wikipedia
Have you read The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency? Or did you see its premiere on BBC1 last Easter Sunday?
The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency is that – the first detective agency run by a woman – and its novelty is that this series of detective stories is set in contemporary Botswana.
The star of the series, Patience Ramotswe is a heroine, with a large heart, but she is no superwoman. She is famously ‘traditionally built’ and has few pretensions. She runs her detective agency on the basis of one “how to” book, and has no particularly skills. She dislikes telephones, and drives with her handbrake on.
Jill Scott’s plays Patience Ramotswe in the BBC series. Ian Wylie quotes Scott’s description of her character:
“She believes in justice and she loves her country. . . She’s a real woman who has experienced the loss of a child, being heartbroken with her first marriage, but decided that life is so much better, that there’s so much more than those particular heartaches.”
The series of books are written by Alexander McCall Snith and are available from a library or book shop near you! Fabulous reading but do read them in order as the lives of the characters unfold. No 1 Ladies . . is the first in the series.
Virgin, Martyr, Saint, Witch?
Posted December 20, 2008
on:- Image by thepluginguy via Flickr
Boys can play too!
Who was it who said that there are no new stories in life, just stories retold in new circumstances? Yet for each of us, our story is completely unique. It is still unfolding and perpetually fascinating!
The circumstances of our busy lives of 2008 are different from the lives of our great-grand parents 100 years ago. Our lives are less scripted. We can shape them much as we please. In large part, we write our stories, or at least our treatment of the circumstances that we can come across along the way.
Archetypes
The common stories of the central characters of a story, that is you and I, are called archetypes, I understand.
Woman often rail about the common stories in which we are cast.
One of my pleasures of the last year was discovering the works of Paulo Coelho, the Brazilian writer. Last week I read The Witch of Portobello. One of the supporting characters introduces her acquaintance with Athena, the main character, with these words.
We women, when we’re searching for a meaning to our lives or for the path of knowledge, always identify with one of four classic archetypes.
The Virgin (and I’m not speaking here of a sexual virgin) is the one whose search springs from her complete independence, and everything she learns is the fruit of her ability to face challenges alone.
The Martyr finds her way to self-knowledge through pain, surrender and suffering.
The Saint finds her true reason for living in unconditional love and in her ability to give without asking anything in return.
Finally, the Witch justifies her existence by going in search of complete and limitless pleasure.
Normally, a woman has to choose from one of these traditional feminine archetypes, but Athena was all four at once.
Which storyline resonates with you?
Are you torn between two story lines? Which makes you feel relaxed? Does knowing the four common story lines help resolve choices?
Singing hearts 2009
Posted December 11, 2008
on:It begins
Earlier today, I asked a professional services provider why I was unable to book for Monday. She inquired of her superiors and that is how she found out that she had been made redundant.
Shortfly afterwards, I completed a planned trip to Woolworth’s, and stocked up on stationery in their closing down sale. It really felt rotten paying. I got brilliant service by-the-way. If you are looking for good talented people in the Milton Keynes area, pop into the Newton Pagnell branch.
We stutter
@Pistachio, who is an astonishingly interesting tweeter given to pithy phrases, asked today: what is the one thing you would change if you could?
This is what I would change: the lack of a coordinated collective, community response to redundancies. People should not be left on their own.
But do we fall?
Yesterday, I started persuading my village to join Twitter. If we are all on Twitter, traders will be able to communicate with us more easily, and we will benefit. For example, yesterday the Coop had carrots at 50p. Had you known that before you left home, you would have arrived with ideas on how to make carrot-based dishes.
When I heard my provider had been made redundant, I undertook to find out rents and to investigate whether we cannot hire her independently.
And what help would I value from you?
I do appreciate people who pop by this blog and make a comment. I am very appreciative of people who’ve helped me settle well in the UK.
I want you to answer @Pistachio‘s question, but slightly differently. I want you to think what you want for 2009. Not what you commit to do as a type of New Year’s Resolution, but what you want. I want to know what would make your heart sing and your spirits soar?
And then, flick Ian Jeanes a message. Ian is organizing people with like dreams, and I will help him.
What is your dream for 2009?
Here we are.
UPDATE: If you’ve never heard Ben Zander, the orchestra conductor, speak on leadership, I recommend it strongly. Half an hour that will truly change your life.
Ben Zander, comfortable of course, in front of a large audience speaks on his work as teacher, university professor and professional conductor.
He has learned to look for the spirit of musicians and talks about “one buttock playing”, “bringing the light to people’s eyes” and “apologizing and inviting”. With these three rules of thumb, you’ll transform the way you work with others.
Welcome to the world of ease and merriment of Ben Zander!
An old, dear friend passed away this weekend living in his third country having been displaced by war & politics twice in his life time. I’ve just received a eulogy from his daughter-in-law.
Bob was one of those rare parents who loved his children as they were. What they were was interesting but not essential: how they were was vital.
Bob, go well. RIP
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