Sunday, September 4, 2011
Struggling to find balance...
I’m hearing more and more people talking about feeling out of whack, struggling to find balance, losing their ‘mojo’ and so on. These feelings are informative and indicate something isn’t right. Overload is common, stress is showing up in new and uncomfortable ways, old unresolved issues are resurfacing and biting people on the bum, and there is a general sense of ‘stop the bus for a minute!’ for those out of step with themselves. Maybe its just my age and stage in life but I seem to hear the words ‘historic’, ‘once in a lifetime’, ‘unparalleled’ on a regular basis these days whether in relation to the speed of change in the Middle East, extreme weather events, political shenanigans, youth suicide, or the extremist behaviour of individuals (among a raft of other things as well).
We could be forgiven for wanting to put our heads down and focus on our own personal lives and leaving the rest to sort itself out these days. Focusing on what we can control or influence is the key to staying sane and enhancing the quality of day-to-day life. The only thing is, as sociologist Paul H. Ray said “The world is getting better and better, and worse and worse, faster and faster, and we are all in it together”. It is this idea that ‘we are all in it together’ that we seem to have the most trouble with. We really are being drawn towards consequences faster and faster and many are overwhelmed in their attempts to keep their eyes on all the balls in the air.
Balance can only be found by ‘tuning in’ to what it actually is for you individually. What that is changes as we grow and evolve through life. I used to be so uncomfortable with my own company that I couldn’t be alone for five minutes without getting on the phone, going somewhere or having visitors. My own company was too uncomfortable to share with myself - I had very low self-esteem in those days. It seems strange to see myself that way now - much is different and my life has been through several transformations - thankfully! Balance for me now is very different than what it was in the past. Now I enjoy alone time immensely so I can explore the relationship between my inner and outer worlds and attempt to make sense of it all or just accept life is what it is. Balance is being able to easily make time to read. It is having full-on work commitments that make me dig deep, and challenges that stretch and grow me. Balance is about creating ‘head space‘ so my mind can let go and wander towards new understandings and possibilities that could help others have better quality lives whilst I enhance my own.
I highly recommend having a think about what balance is for you. If life was balanced, or closer to balance than it is now what would be different? How would you love it to be? Aim in that direction and even if you don’t get there you will be closer than you are now. If you are headed where you want to go when you look far down the road and you are experiencing challenges, remind yourself of their purpose and re-engage in your activities with joy - after all, today is your future history. These are the good old days. Make them brilliant so you can look back and be glad for how you lived and what you contributed to the world. Be true to you and you can be confident you are on track. We all evolve throughout our lives…here’s to consciously co-operating with that evolutionary impulse in us all.
And that’s it... from my view.
Amanda
Saturday, June 25, 2011
What’s going on?
If you have worked with me or follow my blogs you know I usually like to take a long view, a big picture look at things, an evolutionary view. So tempting it is to be swallowed by day-to-day events and activities calling our attention this way and that, endlessly thrown around by circumstances…I had this experience last week having flown Air NZ to Brisbane to attend the World Happiness Conference. Knowing I had a teaching commitment in Auckland the day after I was due back, I found myself increasingly worrying if volcanic ash was going to thwart me (I was booked back on Qantas and they were not flying). This made it challenging at times to stay present where I was, listening to speakers with great messages, including His Holiness The Dalai Lama. It was a wonderful learning experience for me given I had a front row seat from which to observe my own rolling responses. Fascinating! I guess I will probably always fret when I feel powerless to affect my own circumstances but being open to the learnings always present in such abundance in day-to day life makes it so much easier to navigate. Suffice to say reflective practise works!
In noticing my own personal challenges and responses, I am also increasingly aware of the bigger challenges and our collective responses. The earth is grumbling, the weather is wilder and many long held human beliefs and attitudes, views and perceptions are being challenged to the point of collapse. It’s almost like a mass collapse of old ideas and ideals is occurring and new ones are racing ahead. This crumbling of power structures shouldn’t surprise anyone. Our desire to express ourselves is a deep impulse arising from our ultimate programming. We are designed to learn and grow and cannot help evolving because we are all part of a much bigger and mysterious process. While we humans continue to play in the slow lane, posturing for power and control of resources, while we continue to marginalise and alienate those ‘unlike’ us (however we judge that), while we continue in combat mode and believe that might is right, while we struggle for certainty in an uncertain world, we miss opportunities the likes of which have never been before.
An abundance of knowledge and wisdom is available now that is pervading our species at an unprecedented rate. Knowledge only multiplies and expands the more it is shared – and the spread of knowledge is now viral. No-one human can stop it nor should they want to. Attempting to stem this tide is futile because it is emerging from our very natures. The grass really is growing through the concrete as it always will given enough time. We are wired to be curious, to learn, to discover and to express our potential just like every other living thing. Our huge difference is awareness and the power to direct our will consciously. The tree that grows wherever the seed landed cannot voluntarily move to find a better more nourishing spot – we can.
We have so many powers yet we are still immature in the ways we use them. Isn’t it obvious the dictator’s days are numbered – whether lauding it over a whole nation or within the walls of the family home? Isn’t it obvious women ought to be equal in all human affairs? Isn’t it obvious the environments baby humans grow and learn in set them up for life? Isn’t it obvious combative politics punishes us all? Isn’t it obvious we are not yet mature enough to depend on everyone to ‘play by the rules and do the right thing’?
Such potential we have! Such suffering we are inflicting when we could be doing so much else. It’s time for more awakening, big dreaming, lots of faith in our positive potential and a willingness to grow into it.
And that’s it from my view.
Amanda
In noticing my own personal challenges and responses, I am also increasingly aware of the bigger challenges and our collective responses. The earth is grumbling, the weather is wilder and many long held human beliefs and attitudes, views and perceptions are being challenged to the point of collapse. It’s almost like a mass collapse of old ideas and ideals is occurring and new ones are racing ahead. This crumbling of power structures shouldn’t surprise anyone. Our desire to express ourselves is a deep impulse arising from our ultimate programming. We are designed to learn and grow and cannot help evolving because we are all part of a much bigger and mysterious process. While we humans continue to play in the slow lane, posturing for power and control of resources, while we continue to marginalise and alienate those ‘unlike’ us (however we judge that), while we continue in combat mode and believe that might is right, while we struggle for certainty in an uncertain world, we miss opportunities the likes of which have never been before.
An abundance of knowledge and wisdom is available now that is pervading our species at an unprecedented rate. Knowledge only multiplies and expands the more it is shared – and the spread of knowledge is now viral. No-one human can stop it nor should they want to. Attempting to stem this tide is futile because it is emerging from our very natures. The grass really is growing through the concrete as it always will given enough time. We are wired to be curious, to learn, to discover and to express our potential just like every other living thing. Our huge difference is awareness and the power to direct our will consciously. The tree that grows wherever the seed landed cannot voluntarily move to find a better more nourishing spot – we can.
We have so many powers yet we are still immature in the ways we use them. Isn’t it obvious the dictator’s days are numbered – whether lauding it over a whole nation or within the walls of the family home? Isn’t it obvious women ought to be equal in all human affairs? Isn’t it obvious the environments baby humans grow and learn in set them up for life? Isn’t it obvious combative politics punishes us all? Isn’t it obvious we are not yet mature enough to depend on everyone to ‘play by the rules and do the right thing’?
Such potential we have! Such suffering we are inflicting when we could be doing so much else. It’s time for more awakening, big dreaming, lots of faith in our positive potential and a willingness to grow into it.
And that’s it from my view.
Amanda
Monday, January 24, 2011
2011: The year to think for ourselves
There is more pressure today than ever to follow the herd, jump on the latest bandwagon and get sucked into hype from all quarters about everything from what the global economy will do, terrorism, climate change, the degradation of natural resources that cannot be replenished as fast as we use them up, the end of the world as we know it in December 2012, the threat of becoming wholly insignificant if we are not centre stage for internet search engines and so on. We are bombarded with reasons to be afraid from media, politicians and religious leaders, extremists and doomsdayers. We seek advice from self appointed gurus and experts on pretty much anything you care to mention. I am astounded at how many online ‘secrets‘ and information sharing is about how to make more and more money. How much is enough doesn’t seem to come into it - all we are told we need is MORE. We humans really do seem to be obsessed with abdicating responsibility and finding others who will tell us what to do, and even what to want.
These are issues we can all consider for ourselves but many of us seem to have no confidence in our own ability to trust our own wisdom or think for ourselves. Day to day rushing about, attention monopolised by immediate concerns like how to pay the bills or who will win an Oscar are manifestations of our priorities. To think for oneself requires the head space to pause and reflect on the bigger picture we are all painting for ourselves and future generations. Make no mistake, we are painting that picture without much of a clue of what we want it to look like due to a current lack of global visionary leadership. This is not a judgement. It is a matter of us never having been here before - so connected, so interdependant, so influencial in some ways, so powerless in others. We have no experience of dealing with the complexities we are faced with so that makes it even more vital to recognise there is no one Guru with the all answers.
In my view we must do our own research, sift through the hype and find trusted sources of information. I believe this is a niche that is woefully bereft of unbiased seekers of truth since genuine investigative journalism struggles to get through the filters of self interest of those who control what we get to see and what is kept from view. Mainstream media appears to be being progressively dumbed down and filled with the most unbelieveable nonsense in the name of ‘news’ and the collective intelligence and wisdom of the masses is insulted every day.
What every one of us can do is join the dots ourselves and make choices from there. We can bemoan the idea that climate change is being accelerated by our own efforts. We can strive for changes in thinking and behaviour, search for new technologies and minimise energy waste and hope some bright spark thinks of a solution. At the same time we can also learn to read the writing on the wall. The facts apparently show the planet was warmer by .5 degrees in 2010. When you put that information together with that which indicates the planet has been gradually warming for the past 30 plus years, we must accept that extreme weather events such as those we have experienced this summer in Sri Lanka, Brazil, Australia and Indonesia will likely become more frequent and it is us who must adapt. What we have seen this summer (and winter in the northern hemisphere) so far are loud messages - they are shouts to our consciousness to adapt to new conditions. Calling them one in one or two hundred year events amplifies their power but I suspect we will see more rather than less of these centenarians in years to come. “Were the floods of 2013 as big as the floods of 2014?” we will ask....never mind 100 years ago. We won’t have to look far back at all for the most powerful events in recorded history because they are happening now. It’s time we realised King Canute’s belief in his own power to send back the tide was fantasy, and so is ours. As so many have said before, the earth would be fine without us but our precious planet is what we all arise from so we must respect the nature of that relationship or we will become just another transitory species that failed to adapt and died out. We do not have ultimate control, not even of ourselves when push comes to shove. The narrow band of comfort we strive to preserve is as fragile as a bubble blown with dishwashing liquid through a bent wire coat hanger.
Let’s hope the lessons being learned from recent climate events will be heeded in the inevitable future scenarios we are likely to see as global weather patterns continue to wreak havoc on human and animal life. The very least we can all do personally is embrace the idea that extreme weather events are growing in frequency (whatever the reasons) and ensure we are prepared to take care of ourselves at least for a few days if the worst happened in our own neighbourhoods. Australians are now largely educated in the need to be prepared for bushfires - it has become habit as a response to what is known about the risk and whole communities get involved in planning and preparation. Let’s do the same regarding education about what our most likely scenarios could be - maybe earthquake, storms and floods? A TV advertisment now and then won’t do the job.
Let’s make 2011 the year of thinking for ourselves and intelligent preparation (without getting paranoid). You may not be able to google what to do after the fact so give you and your family a break and at least have a conversation, make a plan for yourselves and organise some sort of emergency kit if you don’t have one already - make sure you include a battery operated radio. Go through the same process in your workplace and with your neighbours. As businesses in Brisbane found out recently, emergency plans cannot just be filed away or not considered at all these days. Everyone needs a plan B for when things don’t go as normal and everyone needs to understand the benefits of having a plan even if you never need to use it (the ideal scenario). This level of basic responsibility frees emergency services and civil defence angels to offer help where they are needed most when crisis hits.
And that’s it from my view.
Amanda
These are issues we can all consider for ourselves but many of us seem to have no confidence in our own ability to trust our own wisdom or think for ourselves. Day to day rushing about, attention monopolised by immediate concerns like how to pay the bills or who will win an Oscar are manifestations of our priorities. To think for oneself requires the head space to pause and reflect on the bigger picture we are all painting for ourselves and future generations. Make no mistake, we are painting that picture without much of a clue of what we want it to look like due to a current lack of global visionary leadership. This is not a judgement. It is a matter of us never having been here before - so connected, so interdependant, so influencial in some ways, so powerless in others. We have no experience of dealing with the complexities we are faced with so that makes it even more vital to recognise there is no one Guru with the all answers.
In my view we must do our own research, sift through the hype and find trusted sources of information. I believe this is a niche that is woefully bereft of unbiased seekers of truth since genuine investigative journalism struggles to get through the filters of self interest of those who control what we get to see and what is kept from view. Mainstream media appears to be being progressively dumbed down and filled with the most unbelieveable nonsense in the name of ‘news’ and the collective intelligence and wisdom of the masses is insulted every day.
What every one of us can do is join the dots ourselves and make choices from there. We can bemoan the idea that climate change is being accelerated by our own efforts. We can strive for changes in thinking and behaviour, search for new technologies and minimise energy waste and hope some bright spark thinks of a solution. At the same time we can also learn to read the writing on the wall. The facts apparently show the planet was warmer by .5 degrees in 2010. When you put that information together with that which indicates the planet has been gradually warming for the past 30 plus years, we must accept that extreme weather events such as those we have experienced this summer in Sri Lanka, Brazil, Australia and Indonesia will likely become more frequent and it is us who must adapt. What we have seen this summer (and winter in the northern hemisphere) so far are loud messages - they are shouts to our consciousness to adapt to new conditions. Calling them one in one or two hundred year events amplifies their power but I suspect we will see more rather than less of these centenarians in years to come. “Were the floods of 2013 as big as the floods of 2014?” we will ask....never mind 100 years ago. We won’t have to look far back at all for the most powerful events in recorded history because they are happening now. It’s time we realised King Canute’s belief in his own power to send back the tide was fantasy, and so is ours. As so many have said before, the earth would be fine without us but our precious planet is what we all arise from so we must respect the nature of that relationship or we will become just another transitory species that failed to adapt and died out. We do not have ultimate control, not even of ourselves when push comes to shove. The narrow band of comfort we strive to preserve is as fragile as a bubble blown with dishwashing liquid through a bent wire coat hanger.
Let’s hope the lessons being learned from recent climate events will be heeded in the inevitable future scenarios we are likely to see as global weather patterns continue to wreak havoc on human and animal life. The very least we can all do personally is embrace the idea that extreme weather events are growing in frequency (whatever the reasons) and ensure we are prepared to take care of ourselves at least for a few days if the worst happened in our own neighbourhoods. Australians are now largely educated in the need to be prepared for bushfires - it has become habit as a response to what is known about the risk and whole communities get involved in planning and preparation. Let’s do the same regarding education about what our most likely scenarios could be - maybe earthquake, storms and floods? A TV advertisment now and then won’t do the job.
Let’s make 2011 the year of thinking for ourselves and intelligent preparation (without getting paranoid). You may not be able to google what to do after the fact so give you and your family a break and at least have a conversation, make a plan for yourselves and organise some sort of emergency kit if you don’t have one already - make sure you include a battery operated radio. Go through the same process in your workplace and with your neighbours. As businesses in Brisbane found out recently, emergency plans cannot just be filed away or not considered at all these days. Everyone needs a plan B for when things don’t go as normal and everyone needs to understand the benefits of having a plan even if you never need to use it (the ideal scenario). This level of basic responsibility frees emergency services and civil defence angels to offer help where they are needed most when crisis hits.
And that’s it from my view.
Amanda
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Forgiveness is a powerful healer.
I know I am not alone in feeling so very saddened by the apparent disregard some humans have (one would hope only a tiny minority) for other creatures that share our environment. The recent slaughter of seals on the Kaikoura coast leaves the vast majority (I hope) incredulous that anyone could kill so many (over 20 and counting) so cruelly and for no apparent reason.
Wild creatures going about their business already have to live the best they can whilst we influence their environments and sometimes even destroy them completely for our own benefit. Most don't have the capacity to adapt to change as fast as we do. "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change." Charles Darwin.
Companion animals like dogs, cats and many others too serve humans in an exchange every animal lover values deeply. To cut off a puppy's ears with sissors or to burn a dog alive in it's kennel as happened in Tauranga recently too must surely be a sign of ignorant people who have no understanding or awareness of the responsibility they have that goes hand in hand with freedom to choose their actions. Our visceral anger and the upset this behaviour has evoked is a great sign from my view. The emotions are indicative of the affront to our values as a society. Our outrage probably won't transform the perpetrators though. Do you think they can even care what we think and feel?
Whilst our responses to each other's actions help us define or confirm what we personally believe and value, we must acknowledge that it is parents and caregivers that are raising our children, raising the seedling children that will one day have the power to deliberately choose their own actions in life. Clearly some are growing up without the necessary brain connections that come from the healthy attachments that create deeply embedded connections in our developing brain. These form the foundations of our capacity for empathy, respect and compassion in our psychology. Maybe these people are conforming to some other driver - peer pressure, twisted logic or some other unfathomable motivation. If so, they won't be feeling too good about themselves and what they have done. If it was funny at the time I bet it isn't now. If they were egged on by others maybe now they are wondering at their actions. I truly hope so because if they are they can change, make different choices.
We humans make mistakes. Period. We also learn fastest by imitation. When we know these things and accept them - like Emma Woods did when her 4 year old was run over in front of her - we can make a choice that uplifts us and minimises suffering. Woods has been named NZ Herald New Zealander of the year - because she forgave the young driver who killed her son. Her demonstration to us all of the power of forgiveness and her acknowledgement that it is simply the way that has worked for her, is powerful testimony to emotional maturity and conscious awareness in the face of the worst heart and gut wrenching experience.
How tragic the people who walk a path of cruelty and the relationship with life that goes with that. It can't be pleasant deep down. Imagine having to live with yourself knowing you had killed those seals or harmed those dogs. We have likely all made choices we came to regret, especially in our youth.
I guess its up to us to realise we can choose in any moment to use those choices, who we have become and what we have experienced as a platform to stand on going forward - to redeem ourselves and find our way to our own blossoming - even if the growth comes as a result of our own worst mistakes and choices.
Forgiveness is a powerful healer. Whilst our behaviour can be deemed inexcusable at times, our forgiveness can melt the hardest hearts and repair damaged souls. Thank you Emma Woods for showing the way.
And that's it, from my view.
Amanda
Wild creatures going about their business already have to live the best they can whilst we influence their environments and sometimes even destroy them completely for our own benefit. Most don't have the capacity to adapt to change as fast as we do. "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change." Charles Darwin.
Companion animals like dogs, cats and many others too serve humans in an exchange every animal lover values deeply. To cut off a puppy's ears with sissors or to burn a dog alive in it's kennel as happened in Tauranga recently too must surely be a sign of ignorant people who have no understanding or awareness of the responsibility they have that goes hand in hand with freedom to choose their actions. Our visceral anger and the upset this behaviour has evoked is a great sign from my view. The emotions are indicative of the affront to our values as a society. Our outrage probably won't transform the perpetrators though. Do you think they can even care what we think and feel?
Whilst our responses to each other's actions help us define or confirm what we personally believe and value, we must acknowledge that it is parents and caregivers that are raising our children, raising the seedling children that will one day have the power to deliberately choose their own actions in life. Clearly some are growing up without the necessary brain connections that come from the healthy attachments that create deeply embedded connections in our developing brain. These form the foundations of our capacity for empathy, respect and compassion in our psychology. Maybe these people are conforming to some other driver - peer pressure, twisted logic or some other unfathomable motivation. If so, they won't be feeling too good about themselves and what they have done. If it was funny at the time I bet it isn't now. If they were egged on by others maybe now they are wondering at their actions. I truly hope so because if they are they can change, make different choices.
We humans make mistakes. Period. We also learn fastest by imitation. When we know these things and accept them - like Emma Woods did when her 4 year old was run over in front of her - we can make a choice that uplifts us and minimises suffering. Woods has been named NZ Herald New Zealander of the year - because she forgave the young driver who killed her son. Her demonstration to us all of the power of forgiveness and her acknowledgement that it is simply the way that has worked for her, is powerful testimony to emotional maturity and conscious awareness in the face of the worst heart and gut wrenching experience.
How tragic the people who walk a path of cruelty and the relationship with life that goes with that. It can't be pleasant deep down. Imagine having to live with yourself knowing you had killed those seals or harmed those dogs. We have likely all made choices we came to regret, especially in our youth.
I guess its up to us to realise we can choose in any moment to use those choices, who we have become and what we have experienced as a platform to stand on going forward - to redeem ourselves and find our way to our own blossoming - even if the growth comes as a result of our own worst mistakes and choices.
Forgiveness is a powerful healer. Whilst our behaviour can be deemed inexcusable at times, our forgiveness can melt the hardest hearts and repair damaged souls. Thank you Emma Woods for showing the way.
And that's it, from my view.
Amanda
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The birth of a ‘Super City’ - an evolutionary view on the positive potential of a community
The new Auckland ‘Supercity’ entity, birthed after a long and sometimes contentious gestation is loaded with positive potential. It is uncoordinated yet - just like a newborn and the quality of ‘parenting’ it gets in these early days will set the course for a generation (and more).
Those who voted and those who didn’t have in truth co-created the team that will lay the foundations and facilitate the unfolding future of the Auckland region. Everyone of voting age is responsible for who will now serve the community going forward - we have expressed ourselves. If we are truly to take responsibility for our choices, the consequences are now ours to keep. For better or worse, the new team is now in place and the accelerated evolution of the Auckland region has begun. There is a great mix of talent, experience, knowledge, skills and passion present in abundance on the new council, along with youthful exhuberance that will hopefully have the courage to call a spade a spade when crusty old thinking threatens to inhibit wisdom based progress.
Like cells joining together to create a whole new more complex and cooperative system (as life has done countless times from the very beginning), we in the Auckland region have the chance to see ourselves in a fresh new light, to expand our identity - led by the new council. Just like the great Kiwi traveller who begins with identifying with a small area of the country, once overseas we relate to the whole - we are Kiwi’s. If we were far out in space our nations would dissolve and we would become earthlings - members of a whole species living on one home planet. This expanded view of ourselves as Aucklanders is something we must come to grips with going forward - even as we rightly retain our smaller community identities and sub cultures. Let’s have decision making based in wisdom and forethought and what is sustainable and good for the whole instead of scrapping over the parts. Those who fear the ‘loss’ of local community identity are missing the chance to not only retain and enhance that identity but to connect, coordinate and collaborate with other ‘sibling’ communities and see ourselves as one family expressing all parts fully, being MORE of who we are, not less.
Anyone who has had the joy of being part of a truly high performing team knows that the key to success is all about robust relationships and alignment on a common purpose, vision and values. A skilled team of champions doesn’t often win over an equally skilled champion team - the joy that isn’t shared gets lonely too. The quality of relationships in our new council team will lay the foundations for relations with all the other players: Iwi, central Government, the CCO’s, Community Boards, the people, and other life forms that live here. There is right now a genuine opportunity to model what excellent teamwork in community looks like and what is possible as a result. And therein lies the evolutionary challenge of the new council - to quickly align as a united team and to grow through any individual limitations. The current ‘moment’ of opportunity is potent!
Call me Pollyanna but I see a wonderfully attractive future potential of One Auckland flourishing, and serving the whole country in that.
I believe in the new teams’ capacity to engage in the process. They are now forever the first ‘One Big Auckland’ Council. Their legacy is in their hands and hearts and heads - the spirit of a united region is what they will seed, set on its way towards a future we can only dream about now...
If this council can align on a common purpose, vision and values it will have a better foundation than many countries and by understanding the transformative process itself, they will be much better equipped to serve the community. If council can demonstrate its’ willingness to find the truly collaborative ‘super council’ inside them as a team, it will be easier for the community to understand, support and cooperate with the process simply because it will be clearly in the interests of everyone to do so. This has both individual and collective components - personal and group transformation. Yep - call me Pollyanna but I see this as our positive potential. We are the species that can choose our own destiny - we can consciously respond to our environment.
Mine is not unlike many visions of a better future but the signposts to it that I am seeing point to a path that is profoundly challenging and utterly compelling at once. Willingness to grow as individuals and as team is at the heart of it all.
The new council leadership team with Len Brown and Penny Hulse at the helm have a range of great gifts around the table that can compliment their own. Their faciltation skills will be needed to harness and shepherd the talented ‘starter pack‘ they have been gifted to work with. I for one believe that between them, with the support of each other, their loved ones and a decent bunch of us backing them up, they absolutely have a shot at co-creating something very special. There certainly seems to be a clear intent to unite.
Change is challenging, exciting and can be as stimulating as hell if it is well understood and communicated about. Sure we will all need to let go of some things in order for the new to emerge - just like pruning a fruit tree, but that shouldn’t worry us, if we understand what is happening and that’s why effective communication with the community will be vital.
The One Auckland example reflects the wider challenge we face in today’s New Zealand and the world at large. If we can foster individual brilliance and collective teamwork we can set a wonderful example for others to follow - this is what true leadership is all about - modeling the way. Yes - the community has birthed a baby with unlimited potential - one that can (if we cooperate) grow us as we grow it, towards a more co-creative future worthy of our greatest aspirations!
May the new council transform our address to One Auckland - Planet earth. A universal destination, a source of inspiration, a true model of collective leadership in human affairs - one that calls forth the very best of our natures and our individual and collective genius.
My view is an ideal, a personal dream on the level of dynamics - and - if we even lumbered slightly in that direction, meeting the challenges and seeing them as the grit that makes pearls rather than something to avoid, we would manifest our dreams whatever they may be, and enhance our quality of Life. Politicing and power struggles are handbrakes - we have a chance to do things differently so here’s hoping the chance is grasped with all hands! Remember Pollyanna did manage to melt the stingiest heart - eventually.
And that’s it, from my view.
Amanda
Those who voted and those who didn’t have in truth co-created the team that will lay the foundations and facilitate the unfolding future of the Auckland region. Everyone of voting age is responsible for who will now serve the community going forward - we have expressed ourselves. If we are truly to take responsibility for our choices, the consequences are now ours to keep. For better or worse, the new team is now in place and the accelerated evolution of the Auckland region has begun. There is a great mix of talent, experience, knowledge, skills and passion present in abundance on the new council, along with youthful exhuberance that will hopefully have the courage to call a spade a spade when crusty old thinking threatens to inhibit wisdom based progress.
Like cells joining together to create a whole new more complex and cooperative system (as life has done countless times from the very beginning), we in the Auckland region have the chance to see ourselves in a fresh new light, to expand our identity - led by the new council. Just like the great Kiwi traveller who begins with identifying with a small area of the country, once overseas we relate to the whole - we are Kiwi’s. If we were far out in space our nations would dissolve and we would become earthlings - members of a whole species living on one home planet. This expanded view of ourselves as Aucklanders is something we must come to grips with going forward - even as we rightly retain our smaller community identities and sub cultures. Let’s have decision making based in wisdom and forethought and what is sustainable and good for the whole instead of scrapping over the parts. Those who fear the ‘loss’ of local community identity are missing the chance to not only retain and enhance that identity but to connect, coordinate and collaborate with other ‘sibling’ communities and see ourselves as one family expressing all parts fully, being MORE of who we are, not less.
Anyone who has had the joy of being part of a truly high performing team knows that the key to success is all about robust relationships and alignment on a common purpose, vision and values. A skilled team of champions doesn’t often win over an equally skilled champion team - the joy that isn’t shared gets lonely too. The quality of relationships in our new council team will lay the foundations for relations with all the other players: Iwi, central Government, the CCO’s, Community Boards, the people, and other life forms that live here. There is right now a genuine opportunity to model what excellent teamwork in community looks like and what is possible as a result. And therein lies the evolutionary challenge of the new council - to quickly align as a united team and to grow through any individual limitations. The current ‘moment’ of opportunity is potent!
Call me Pollyanna but I see a wonderfully attractive future potential of One Auckland flourishing, and serving the whole country in that.
I believe in the new teams’ capacity to engage in the process. They are now forever the first ‘One Big Auckland’ Council. Their legacy is in their hands and hearts and heads - the spirit of a united region is what they will seed, set on its way towards a future we can only dream about now...
If this council can align on a common purpose, vision and values it will have a better foundation than many countries and by understanding the transformative process itself, they will be much better equipped to serve the community. If council can demonstrate its’ willingness to find the truly collaborative ‘super council’ inside them as a team, it will be easier for the community to understand, support and cooperate with the process simply because it will be clearly in the interests of everyone to do so. This has both individual and collective components - personal and group transformation. Yep - call me Pollyanna but I see this as our positive potential. We are the species that can choose our own destiny - we can consciously respond to our environment.
Mine is not unlike many visions of a better future but the signposts to it that I am seeing point to a path that is profoundly challenging and utterly compelling at once. Willingness to grow as individuals and as team is at the heart of it all.
The new council leadership team with Len Brown and Penny Hulse at the helm have a range of great gifts around the table that can compliment their own. Their faciltation skills will be needed to harness and shepherd the talented ‘starter pack‘ they have been gifted to work with. I for one believe that between them, with the support of each other, their loved ones and a decent bunch of us backing them up, they absolutely have a shot at co-creating something very special. There certainly seems to be a clear intent to unite.
Change is challenging, exciting and can be as stimulating as hell if it is well understood and communicated about. Sure we will all need to let go of some things in order for the new to emerge - just like pruning a fruit tree, but that shouldn’t worry us, if we understand what is happening and that’s why effective communication with the community will be vital.
The One Auckland example reflects the wider challenge we face in today’s New Zealand and the world at large. If we can foster individual brilliance and collective teamwork we can set a wonderful example for others to follow - this is what true leadership is all about - modeling the way. Yes - the community has birthed a baby with unlimited potential - one that can (if we cooperate) grow us as we grow it, towards a more co-creative future worthy of our greatest aspirations!
May the new council transform our address to One Auckland - Planet earth. A universal destination, a source of inspiration, a true model of collective leadership in human affairs - one that calls forth the very best of our natures and our individual and collective genius.
My view is an ideal, a personal dream on the level of dynamics - and - if we even lumbered slightly in that direction, meeting the challenges and seeing them as the grit that makes pearls rather than something to avoid, we would manifest our dreams whatever they may be, and enhance our quality of Life. Politicing and power struggles are handbrakes - we have a chance to do things differently so here’s hoping the chance is grasped with all hands! Remember Pollyanna did manage to melt the stingiest heart - eventually.
And that’s it, from my view.
Amanda
Monday, July 12, 2010
The 'Why' of joining sites like 'Linked in'
Don’t know about you but I am feeling the world hoofing it ahead of my current technical skills and understanding. I am 51 years old, passionate about my life and work (same thing really) in the domain of the ‘conscious evolution’ potential of our species and I am rapidly realising I need to learn to embrace a new type of relationship, one I have only ever been on the fringes of. I’m calling it ‘the e-rel’ and it spans the spectrum between the most superficial of connections, to the deepest ‘soul connection’ with those you may never ever meet in person, yet deeply connect with via a passion or interest you share. Cyber space relationships are creating many many opportunities on many many levels - the ones that interest me are those we can use for the purpose of being part of the conversations and actions that are shaping our world.
‘Linked in’ for example is a platform to join groups and observe or participate in conversations that interest you - for the purpose of learning new things and connecting with like minds - and hearts. It is a platform that has primarily been used as a recruiting tool but is fast becoming the professional person’s networking site. It gives people a place to play and practise and learn from others and there is so much to learn! It’s pretty easy to get started - just google ‘linked in’ and from there you can join groups in your areas of interest. I hope you will want to ‘link’ with me there as well!
So go get some learning - locally or via the net, or on a course if you like group learning. Do what works for you - there are some great resources on the internet in video and audio as well as written form. Do what works for you. But do it. Even if you are hanging on by your fingernail (like I often feel), at least you are in the game. We have such huge potential as a species - let’s get the best of our natures working in alignment!
And that’s it, from my view.
Amanda
‘Linked in’ for example is a platform to join groups and observe or participate in conversations that interest you - for the purpose of learning new things and connecting with like minds - and hearts. It is a platform that has primarily been used as a recruiting tool but is fast becoming the professional person’s networking site. It gives people a place to play and practise and learn from others and there is so much to learn! It’s pretty easy to get started - just google ‘linked in’ and from there you can join groups in your areas of interest. I hope you will want to ‘link’ with me there as well!
So go get some learning - locally or via the net, or on a course if you like group learning. Do what works for you - there are some great resources on the internet in video and audio as well as written form. Do what works for you. But do it. Even if you are hanging on by your fingernail (like I often feel), at least you are in the game. We have such huge potential as a species - let’s get the best of our natures working in alignment!
And that’s it, from my view.
Amanda
The Uncommon Path: Awakening the Wisdom within
Amanda has recently finished Mick Quinn’s excellent book "The Uncommon Path". It is a truly growth promoting offering for the serious student of higher learning. Mick Quinn, Irish-born author of Amazon #1 Bestseller - The Uncommon Path; 2009 WINNER - National Best Books Award - Spirituality. Website: www.mickquinn.com.
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