STAY CONNECTED

The late GREAT Nelson Mandela's legacy is now ours to do with what we will. Whilst enabling self-determination for so many Mandela demonstrated that whilst one man can do so much, many men and women can together do even more. We have such collective power to influence the lives of each other. We have such positive potentials. Great humans are rare, and yet they are everywhere in Potentia. I meet them every day. Our personal challenge is to act like a great person by being one...in our own small ways and with all our imperfections. I like many of Mandela’s quotes but one that stays with me regarding his humility is “I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner that keeps on trying”. It really is our Imperfections that fuel our brilliance. We don’t need to set out to be great to become great humans, we just need to be guided by our evolutionary integrity (EVI) - what we are intrinsically designed to be. The rest will take care of itself if only we cooperate.

STAY CONNECTED

Learning to ride highs while staying connected to lows grows emotional capacity even though the process of life requires that we struggle and even suffer. AS WE GROW AWARENESS and our other superpowers of Imagination, Intuition, Reason and Will, we end up expanding our capacities and become better able to cooperate with our growth...even with the seemingly necessary struggle. Awakened, we also cease to suffer nearly so much for we have expanded perspective...still connected to the daily stuff of life. Our imperfections are known and owned such that they become part of the platform we stand on in life, part of the authentic 'us' that seeks to express itself in the world.

I am committed to contributing to the raising of human consciousness towards more and more of our positive potentials. I see so much we could do and be and have and I believe a conscious path is the way to more wisdom and better decision-making. We can all live in ‘the now’ and be present to what life offers but we must remember that every ‘now’ takes us moment by moment, choice by choice, towards somewhere… Perhaps it is time to look far out to the horizon of time and acknowledge the direction our decisions are leading us. It is an old spiritual truth that “If you don’t change direction – you will end up where you are headed”. If you don’t like where you are headed – change direction!

In my own small way, I will do whatever I can to foster the healthy human relationships that lead to healthy communities and a more coherent human species. This is my life’s work and commitment to you and all my fellow humans. Whoever you are and believe yourself to be, I wish you more of what nourishes you deeply. Maybe 2014 can be the year of great awakenings.

I hope to see you in person sometime next year. The Soapbox will return in February.

Signing off for 2013 with loads of love to you and yours for a safe and FUN FILLED summer,

Amanda

LOOKING WITH EVOLUTIONARY EYES

The pressure is building. I watched this the other day and felt a hopeful sense of ‘maybe now…’ come over me (the clip is not long but highly revealing). It shows graphically the perceptions about wealth distribution in the US, what people ideally want, and the reality. What it shows me is the evolution of our species has swung more than a little off balance. And whenever humans go off balance there is usually hell to pay to set things right again.

Money and ‘ownership of stuff’ has never particularly motivated me other than from a ‘seeking independence’ point of view. I don’t find comfort in feeling reliant on others so have always wanted to make my own way. At the same time I find comfort in knowing I have people in my life I can absolutely rely on if I need them. I know I am that person for others and like that feeling too - it is one of the joys of life for me. And so I have come to understand interdependence.

With freedom comes responsibility. Without risk there can be no trust, and without trust our world becomes a very scary place indeed.

“The world is getting better and better and worse and worse, faster and faster, and we’re all in it together.” (Paul Ray).

ARE WE MAD?

The past thirty years especially have been phenomenal with regards to the speed with which resources have been and continue to be gobbled up and stock-piled by a tiny few. The enslaving of entire generations of the commons to indebtedness, the levels of violence and corruption, environmental degradation, poverty and crime, economic crises…not to mention the raft of natural disasters we have been privy to ‘live on camera’ all over the world are all day to day issues now.

Nature shows us over and over that crises drive transformation. The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein says it all really. We have implemented ideas that have created vast inequalities. Humans in authority have manufactured crises in order to redistribute wealth all over the world. We have democracies that have become corporate controlled and accountabilities are all but non-existent for those with the power to change the laws of the land. Too much deregulation creates chaos and anarchy, and over regulation chokes growth. Both are unsustainable in their extremes yet we struggle to find a balance of structure and flow.

History shows that when the King gets too big for his boots and stops caring for his wider kingdom or worse abuses his people, he tends to have his head removed – to me a symbol of the disconnect between ego and the heart residing in the body. When we go too far, our environment clips our wings and shows us our place. The frog in the pot is beginning to realise it is being boiled alive…

As long as we are unaware of being manipulated we will continue on, blissfully opiated by the glittery attraction of the material world and the drive to consume. How many more Tsunamis and earthquakes and super-storms will we need in order to get that all that is transitory, and all security based on the material possession is illusion.

The atrocities we humans are capable of seem to get worse every day. The outrage about corruption, the outrage about the way women are treated still, the outrage about human trafficking, child abuse, poverty, air quality, food and water shortages…the list goes on. Puff and bluster and outrage is just hot air unless it actually influences the way we see ourselves and our relationship with the environment that sustains us. The way we think precedes the way we act.

The human future is not something we are heading towards just now…the future is hurtling towards us and it is looking more and more like a nightmare.

The best way to escape a nightmare is to WAKE UP!

Conscious evolution IS a wake up response. We can influence and impact our future but first we must acknowledge and ride our way out of our dis-ease.

Awareness is the first step to freedom. Choosing an evolutionary view offers a very positive potential for us all – a view where we awaken fully to our responsibilities and take joy in creating a better world and a more conscious and compassionate and tolerant human species. We have shown ourselves the dangers of ego run amok in every area of human life. What could we be if we played to our most positive potentials I wonder? Could we be better than we are now? I choose to believe we haven’t seen the best of ourselves yet…

And that’s it, from my view

Amanda

A e-copy of I Can Speak….is now available here. You can also read chapter one of Activate Your Human Superpowers.

Challenging apathy, ambivalence and defeatism...

There are so many topics to choose from to blog about this month… My creative juices are still running way in front of my competence!

At present I continue to challenge myself to grasp the basics of creating an online business. Some days I simply feel too thick to learn. I wouldn’t bother except I feel like there are ‘thirsty’ people everywhere and I know where there is a well that never runs dry! I feel responsible to at least point to the path that leads to nourishment and sustenance. It is not a theoretical path or a computer generated simulation either, it is the inner first journey that ultimately leads to personal freedom.

When things get tough in my life, my default setting is activated and defeat has been my first port of call. In the past it has pinned me down until I get myself free of it and move on. Defeatism doesn’t hang around these days though, not for long. I notice that as I feel that defeated feeling, it moves on and I start hearing whisperings of hope and ‘what if’s?’ Then I am off again. It is such a relief to know defeat and not be trapped by it.

These are challenging times we live in, no matter what superficial illusion is painted for us. We have some ugly aspects to atone for and some serious problems to solve (like the degradation of our care for each other). If we stop caring we are done for. I care to challenge apathy, ambivalence and defeatism with belief and faith in our evolutionary integrity as species. We are capable of so much more yet. I am one of many saying ‘Bring it on’. Which side of history will you land on? It is in every moment that you get to choose.

And that’s it, from my view. May the force (of love) be with you,

Amanda

THE CHALLENGES OF ADAPTING TO CHANGE

My ego loves change I can pretend I am in charge of. We can all change jobs/roles, homes, countries, habits, values and even beliefs about ourselves and the world we live in. Those times I initiate and significantly impact my life in ways that make me feel good can be most thrilling. If I can crack a nut that has been holding me back from the inside (like an unhelpful habit or belief), all the better! 'Up there too are the surprise changes I havent predicted; the ones that turn out to be opportunities blazing in front of me like a fire on a cold night….magnets for my attention. These days I am more open to those random unexpected changes than I have been since childhood when I rolled with them relatively easily.

It doesnt seem to matter which way you cut it, change can be thrilling and terrifying, hugely significant or non-eventful. It can also be transformational or temporary. Water into ice or steam can always go back…that is temporary change. Transformational change has no 'back switch – like grapes into wine or the caterpillar into the butterfly, or when we make a decision that changes our orientation in life forever. We can put energy into resisting it or go with the flow, all depending on what the change brings with it, and what we have to release to embrace it.

CHANGE AND ATTACHMENT
Changes that require letting go of that which I am used to and enjoy are harder, depending on what level of attachment I have and how much I am compelled to cling to an old reality. I have the potential to behave badly in the face of these changes. Those 'out of my comfort zone ones are a challenge but the worst of all for me are those I feel I have no control over…where my attachment is to control itself. Change that evokes a sense of powerlessness is not a pretty state it is very uncomfortable and can be quite depressing. These are the changes that are waves and rip-tides that tug my feet out unexpectedly, that come upon me too fast to react or take a decent breath, the ones that force me to fight for my life, all the while terrified. Those are the most frightening to me – especially when I know I am ill equipped emotionally – like when I have to face a sudden death or have no clue how I will manage in a new reality, the landscape fundamentally different.

THE CHALLENGE
My challenge in all times of change is to accept the new reality as fast as I can, influence it if and where I can, cooperate with it if I must, navigate through as best I can and be of service to others where I can if the change affects more than just me. In other words the challenge is always to reclaim my power to choose the change. I notice my personal challenge can require me to give way and yield, without 'giving up (defeatism used to be a default position for me). When I find myself at points in my life where the surf is strong I am challenged to respect the force of nature that created me, and cooperate…some might say get on my knees and sit in humility where I belong, reminded again of my place and that I am only ever as good as my ability to choose how I respond – my only real power.

At the risk of getting a bit personal in this vast sea called the Internet, I sense myself at such a place right now. Change, the transformational kind, is in the air. Surf is up. I will tell you more about what it brings as I work on riding it. I sense it on a very private and personal level, and I sense others around me feeling it too. I also sense it in the bigger picture. Can you feel a swell growing towards waves that will eventually break and transform everything they touch?One really obvious current is the way the internet is facilitating whole species transformation right in front of our noses.

THE TRANSFORMATIVE PORTAL THAT IS THE WORLD WIDE WEB
The portal to the global brain we call the Internet is a most clear mirror of our collective consciousness if we can 'see it in its entirety. It is an endless space where everything can find a way to 'be – the good, the bad and the hideously ugly aspects of us. We will continue to see the way the web shapes Humanity as we gather hindsight but for now it is a human free-for-all space where every indulgence and highest aspiration can take root. It is still so relatively new to the collective consciousness and not everyone is hooked up yet but it wont be long…there are predictions of another billion people being online in the next couple of years. Communication technology is transforming our species.

Our consciousness is the new 'land of exploration for those daring enough to @dventure there. Now is the time we can move beyond the current ego-crowded world and into the wide-open spaces of what we are together that we cannot be alone. The Internet makes this more possible than ever before but we also need to do the work on ourselves…now we can go to that field, and till the soil there. As Rumi said "There is a field – I will meet you there". That field is a field of consciousness. We can affect transformation of our species if we yield to our positive potentials in 'the field where all is possible.

As my 'work keeps working on me, I know your 'work must be working on you. May you consciously choose your life orientation and have a great month as we head for Spring and what change – transformative change - that will release in our world.

My own orientation is all about surrender to the inevitable. I choose that surrender towards my own personal Spring –I sense it is time for some deep breaths and a leap of faith!

And thats it, from my view
Amanda x

THERE IS ONLY ONE THING TO WRITE ABOUT TODAY…

(written July 1st 2013)

My Granddad’s name was Nelson. He was a well-loved man who worked his way up from chipping weeds beside the railway tracks (forever getting told to ‘lean on your shovel a bit more’ because the guy on the other side didn’t have a work ethic), to the very Grand position of Station Master. I remember him as an ancient man, a living relic like an old gnarled tree to my child eyes, rocking gently in his green and yellowed vinyl rocking chair with his twisted arthritic fingers doing his best to stroke our cats. I loved him so completely I didn’t even realize it, like a fish doesn’t realize water (we imagine). Because he had always been there I suppose, and his presence was loving and steady. I only realized how much I loved him really, when he died – I was seven. It was one of my ‘coming of age’ from child to ‘big kid’ moments. He left a big hole in my life for a good while.

This same awareness is now a reality for several generations on the planet Earth today regarding another old and much loved man called Nelson. For decades now, Nelson Mandela has been part of the air we breathe and the water we drink.

He has ‘been there’ consciously for thirty years of my own life (I am 54). I have never met him but he has influenced my life significantly. I became aware of him as a young police officer during the Springbok Tour of New Zealand, and since then his story has found it’s way to me from many, many directions. He is perhaps the most universally known man alive (as I write). On his visit to New Zealand in 1995 he touched the essence of the country with his wisdom, sense of fun, gratitude and humility. His stand for people to have the right to determine their own destiny strikes a chord deep within us. It is a note that transcends race or religion, gender or status.

The shadow side of Mandela’s life has spilled over too at times (and we all have one of those) and yet it all pales in the face of his fortitude, his leadership, his capacity for forgiveness, his openness and his general like and lovability. What else will he be remembered for I wonder…?

I don’t know him up close, but from afar I can see him as a comforting presence in the world. He has been like my granddad Nelson was for me as a child. Knowing he was there held me in a space where the world was ok. The reassurance his very presence banished any fear of what might happen if he was ever gone. That thought is now planted in the global psyche as Mandela’s health has deteriorated over the past weeks. We are getting to used to the idea he will one day be gone.

Nelson Mandela has surely been and is, a truly global blessing not just to his own family (who missed out on him the most in so many ways), nor to his own country, but to the entire world. He has taken being a global human further than perhaps any other human ever has – never his intention I’m sure.

I will miss his presence in my own life going forward, and I dare to hope that we humans can learn from his example in life, and stand for human decency and our higher qualities the way he has.

I will not forget Nelson Mandela. The vigil for this wonderful man is righteous. The celebration of his life ought to be a show of great appreciation by the rest of us. He has been and is a great teacher, in life as he will surely be in death.

And that’s it,

From my view.

THERE IS A WAVE GATHERING MOMENTUM...

There is a wave rippling around the world right now and it is growing in strength - fast. I believe this will continue but sadly there will be more grief before the tipping point is reached and some of our unhelpful habits are dispatched to evolve into historical curiosities (the same way many cultural practices have been over time).

From my view this is just part of the process of we humans ‘activating our superpowers’, but whatever language you use it is pretty difficult to deny the mounting evidence that our consciousness is expanding. Even so, the new growth is still commonly seen as a threat to that which exists today instead of the magnificent opportunity it truly heralds if only we could all see it together. It might seem like we are changing, but in my view we are simply awakening to more and more of what we can be, and realizing we must change our ways in order to be free to enjoy what is on offer. If we can’t let go of the wharf, we can hardly cross the ocean! The fake psychological comfort blanket that is our ego (albeit helpful), is not a patch on the adventures that await us.

Here's my take on some of the growing edges we face:

• Because of our global connectedness via the internet, we can be much more aware of things happening in places far away from us. For example a group of brutish men can no longer expect to subject a woman to barbaric acts and not be vilified internationally. Political Will is having its hand forced by international awareness and outrage. Collective intolerance for attempting to use culture to scare humans from becoming educated is gathering strength fast too. This intolerance transcends national, religious and cultural boundaries. The opportunity is ahead for something entirely different based on how humans treat women and children. It does not have to be scary to honour women and children properly. There is something inherently offensive about the abuse humans subject each other to.

• Some ideas frozen in time that emerged in a very different context can no longer stand – they must evolve just as the oldest tree with the deepest roots will be uprooted by a strong enough wind. We don’t refer to ‘winds of change’ for nothing. If ideas cannot evolve, rigidity sets in. Rigidity is unsustainable because Creation has no ‘off’ switch. The rule is co-operate, or become irrelevant. Flexible thinking is vital in order to thrive in today’s world and this will be so in tomorrow’s world too. By being flexible in our thinking – we can do anything! THAT is thrilling!

• As humans see the freedoms other humans enjoy, they are going to naturally seek those freedoms for themselves. This is particularly true of men and women in developing countries today. Nothing and no-one can stop this. We cannot 'un-see' what we have seen, and we cannot be kept asleep when its time to wake up. It's the nature of our nature.
  
• Women in particular are beginning to mobilize in ways we have never been able to before the internet. We are connecting with each other to take a stand and advocate for a more peaceful, loving, and sane world, in which we seek ways to live more harmoniously. Whatever your interest, there is a women’s’ group collaborating around that idea and more are sprouting every day. Could less aggression and more love in the world be harmful to anyone or anything really?
  
• It is time to grow out of our power struggles with each other and learn to coordinate and collaborate to solve the problems that affect us all. Our problems could unite us (if we let them). This is a 'moment of possibility' for Humanity. We now know beyond doubt that the relationship between us and the environment is alive, organic and influenced by the interaction of us both. We have shown our power to influence our environment, now we must learn to respond to the results.
  
• Young people in particular are awakening to the outrageous greed and waste perpetuated by societies that measure their success on how much is consumed, when planetary resources are being depleted much faster than they can be replenished (observable and measureable fact). The creative genius of youth is applying itself to new solutions. It is incumbent on us all to pay attention to the world our young people want to foster.
  
• Raising baby humans shapes human destiny and has languished as a ‘lesser than’ role when it needs to be elevated to the most VITAL AND VALUED role of all. Communities and societies that get this right and prioritise early brain development (that flourishes in a safe and loving environment) will reap the rewards in a very short time. Those that go even further and empower the carers of baby humans, will accelerate the process even more. We could change Humanity in a single generation if we just applied what the science now tells us about baby brain development and set about making sure all children got the best start possible.
  
• Sharing a meaningful purpose with others and working together towards that which uplifts us and our environment is becoming more and more appealing and compelling. Many of us are seeking new visions of our positive potential as we look further down the road of our current behaviour and have the guts to see where that leads. That things have gotten to this point is now pushing people to take the leap and choose their destiny.

If you are noticing yourself feeling world weary in the face of ‘negative news’…if you are despairing at the state of human relations, the degradation of women, the waste of resources, and all the other negatives we live with today, take heart because the wave of LOVE is growing.

Our higher natures are calling to us through the crises and emboldening us to speak up and share what is in our hearts. So add your voice and your gifts to the mix – your species needs you to stand up for it. Stand for what you believe in. Know you are one among many and the many is growing in numbers.

Our species is being called to evolve now or continue on a path that will impact the world in ways that might make it very, very difficult to come back from. It might not be in your lifetime but if you care at all about your children’s children, (they could be walking the planet in your lifetime) we must start taking more responsibility NOW.

Climate change must be addressed. We are going to have to learn to adapt to changes in our environment. INTERNAL climate change must become a human priority too. Together we can affect change in ways we never can on our own. Bring love in out of the cold and make it central to all we do and decide and we might just reach our highest potential, individually and together.

One of my more private favourite sayings is ‘The Goddess is alive, and magic is afoot’. This magic is in the air right now.

Say YES to your own internal climate change and you will make magic of your own.

And that’s it, from my view. Have a great month as you ‘winter’ in the southern hemisphere and ‘summer’ in the north.

Amanda x

"GODSENDS" WANTED - APPLY WITHIN

I have been pondering lately on just how blessed I have been by the 'Godsends' in my life. You know those times when all seems lost, you are caught short in some way, there is a need miraculously met at the last possible moment... you get the drift. Unexpected miracles that can be big or small, Godsends can come in many forms, and they can be HUMAN. Godsends are lifesavers (or feel like it at the time).

I really have been blessed by Godsends throughout my life and it occurred to me recently to want to BE one. I have been thinking I would like to apply for the job of being a Godsend, because they are especially useful, and being useful is my own big mission in life. 'Make yourself useful' is one of those deeply imbedded imprints on my psyche, a watermark, and part of my personal fabric.

So I followed this little thread of thought and it took me to recognizing the logic of all of us already being Godsends (at least in potential). If we use the word 'God' as a label for 'source' or 'creation' or 'the unknowable', then we all hail from the same cosmic soup mix. If we use Marianne Williamson's definition of 'God' as 'the thought of Love' we all hail from there. Any which way, we could say we were 'God-sent'.

From where I sit, the world needs more Godsends: those people who are tuned in and turn up, help out, be an ear, share resources, lend a hand, share a load.

The incredible results we can achieve when we unite with others in a common cause promote love and satisfaction that cannot be bought with anything other than generosity of spirit - the Godsend in us all.

Recent events around the world are once again keeping our consciousness challenged to choose between LOVE and FEAR. Godsends help. You don't need any quals to be one. You only need to be present to the truth and respond from your heart.

Please know there are plenty of vacancies for Godsends. All you do is APPLY WITHIN. That is where you take on the job. Choose to be a Godsend. You never know when you will get called up for a job, just be prepared to serve. It is not so much a 'doing' thing as a 'being' thing.

Thank you to all the Godsends in my life, and thank you for all the Godsends in my life. My Godsends highlight why I feel so blessed, even on the crap days. In fact they get me through those crap days! Be grateful for Godsends - they help us through.

And that's it from my view.
"With goodness and beauty all around may you walk." (Navajo saying)

Amanda

PS I could use ''Source-send' to avoid the loaded 'God' label...but it doesn't feel the same!

A love affair with learning…

Since our first ‘Activate Your Superpowers’ workshop I have to say my learning curve has gotten very grunty and life has taken off in new and stimulating ways. The learning is expansive and oh so exciting! The six years the book took for me to solidify and actually write – from the seed ideas sown in Chartres (France) in 2006 to the reality of holding the book in my hands - feel like a blur of growth when I reflect on it. But truly, if I thought my growth accelerated through the writing process, it has amped up considerably since publication and the creating and presenting of the very first workshop. I am totally inspired to bring the superpower ideas and context for life to the world. I am a true believer of the inherent brilliance and potential in us all and remain committed to assisting others to discover that in themselves. As you read this, know there is someone who believes in you completely – ME! Whether you are an ‘old dog’ or a young one, it is very safe to say YOU CAN LEARN new tricks.

I feel so very blessed to have found my ‘lane’, my calling, my vocation, so relatively early in life (my mid twenties). After more than two decades of full immersion in personal development off the back of my career in the Police, my quality of life just keeps getting better and better. If I died tomorrow I will have died at my happiest so far (which is a very comforting thought!). Living on the edge of my own happiness is great but I don’t want to die tomorrow though because there is still SO MUCH to do and I have not finished learning and contributing yet by any stretch of my ever-expanding Imagination (a human superpower).

By learning to ‘see’ with evolutionary eyes; by choosing an orientation for life that positions me as contributor to something much bigger than my separate self; by seeing enlightenment as ongoing and never-ending - like a musical note I can ride and ride, and by giving myself over to the highest purpose I can dream up, I can appreciate it all and see everything as a weaving that is truly a masterpiece – utterly perfect (and perfectly flawed), forever-evolving and truly awesome.

There are many problems for us to solve in the world today. We will not solve them while we ‘see’ them from the limited perspective of ego. We are evolving as a species and being challenged to grow out of our species immaturity and into our prime. In my view in spite of all our advances on so many levels, we have not even scratched the surface of what more we can Be.

We are all called to education that aligns with who we are in essence. If we listen, we will find out way to our natural path through life. There is such perfection in our process if we can become more aware of it and cooperate. Perhaps it is time to honestly evaluate the education we expose ourselves to. Should we be encouraging young people to learn more about how they tick as humans so they can follow their own dreams? Or should we push them through a system they don’t really relate to so they can begin to accumulate an alphabet after their name? In my view there can be a powerful mix of internal and external education that will equip young people for a future we haven’t imagined yet. We ‘old dogs’ can use our worldly experience and grow more from the inside out. It is time for us to step up and be the leaders of our generation.

Remember the old quote “If you’re green you’ll grow – if you’re ripe you’ll rot”. Choose to have a love affair with learning – make that affair last your whole life through. If YOU want to accelerate the expansion of your consciousness and get more tuned in to your own ‘evolutionary integrity’ (what you are designed to be), pay some attention to your natural powers of Awareness, Imagination, Intuition, Reason, and Will – and watch your life take off in all the ways you dream about…you can afford to back yourself – really! From that place the education you need will become obvious, whether via Tech, University, the street, the internet, or wherever you are led – from the inside – out. Follow your own dreams – in the end they are the only ones that matter.

And that’s it from my view,
Keep it real.
Amanda (Twittering from @evointegrity)

FROM MY VIEW...

We seem to be in serious danger of disconnecting with our natural world to the point of denying the very obvious responsibility we have to live in partnership with it. You could call that abdicating responsibility - and you would be accurate. We simply cannot leave the care of the environment (that supports life for all beings), to a relative few activists to handle while billions of us continue on our merry way - the job is far too big. Nor can we abdicate our responsibility to an imaginary friend, superstition or myth. We humans have the power to consciously choose how we relate to our planetary home. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all influencing our environment, even as it influences us.

From where I sit, we can do so much to help ourselves take more responsibility for the legacy we are weaving in every moment for future generations. There is power in the NOW, and, we must lift our sights and see beyond the horizon to new futures and choose consciously where we want to head. What sort of people do we want to be? What sort of future do we want to contribute to? These questions (and others) can call us towards what else we are and can be. They are the impulses in us to grow and evolve and mature as individuals, and as species. These are big questions but they can be asked - and answered - and acted upon in so many ways, big and small.

Here are just a few of the little things I do to keep me consciously connected to my wider environment and the other beings I share it with: Whenever I hear a siren (police, fire or ambulance), the thought 'take the angels with you' comes into my awareness as an intention for the situation the sirens are about. Sometimes I say this out loud and other times I say it in my head. It doesn't bother me if angels are 'real' or not.

I notice the wildlife living in my city or setting and I greet it with a positive intent for its well-being. If I am compelled to end a life with a spray or a wipe (or even a slap) I acknowledge I am doing it and remind myself everything just tries to have a life, like me.

I now habitually say 'Bless you' or the equivalent intent after I have cursed someone for cutting me off in traffic or otherwise irritating me. 'Bless you' acknowledges (even if begrudgingly) that you are not living their life. If feeling irritated becomes a little too familiar - I accept I have work to do - on myself. I also use 'bless you' as a general thought towards others.

When I am feeling emotionally provoked - I quickly remind myself "This too will pass" - just like a cloud moving across the sun. Everything (including you) is on its way to something else - all the time. Accept and embrace that and the need to cling to things staying as they are or being resistant to change will both diminish.

These few 'connectors' help me stay present to life on a day-to-day basis. From my view, our species is engaging in a migration from unconscious motivations, to conscious awareness and species maturity. This is happening in spite of geo-political tussles and power struggles, human greed, violence and corruption.

The shadow side of ourselves is dark indeed, and the light in us is equally bright.

The growth of Awareness (a human superpower) is an incredible tool for personal growth. Awareness is the torch that can light our way. It enables us to move through challenges more easily and with less suffering. If we are living consciously it is difficult to stay angry for long, or sad for long or frightened for long because the torch that is Awareness illuminates the situation and frees us from our identification with it. I wish for you the joy of that illumination. There is such freedom in taking responsibility. We can be more.

And that's it from my view.

Step out, step up and to make your 2013 a year of real transformation

Kia Ora (Greetings)

This 'Soapbox' is a little different to the usual. Today we seek to embolden you to step out, step up and to make your 2013 a year of real transformation. In challenging you to step out and up, we must do this ourselves - hence this communication. We cannot take opportunities we do not know exist so today's Soapbox is about getting the word out about some upcoming learning and development opportunities. We often get feedback about not being bold enough in promoting our services so this email is unashamedly intended to remedy that.

We know if you read this newsletter is it because you are committed to your growth. You have been exposed to our work somehow or other; perhaps in a course room through The Icehouse, a public course, a corporate training or a conference somewhere. Maybe you have been introduced to us recently or we have worked together for years. Regardless, we believe you have more potential yet and this is the year to let it out! This is the year to consciously evolve yourself and your enterprise. We want to help you do just that.

PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES…
In case our particular offerings are relevant to your own goals and aspirations this year, we have public workshops coming up in three highly relevant growth areas. If you sense an impulse in you to take the next steps in your own evolution, details for workshops on offer in the next 6 weeks are below.

HIGH PERFORMANCE ORGANISATIONS…
We also want to highlight the opportunities that can open up for businesses that engage in personal development for leaders and teams. Whatever level of teamwork is needed to make your enterprise flourish, the quality of contribution from every single person influences all business results. If you want to attract and retain talented people, you must provide them with opportunities to learn and grow.

Our heartiest encouragement is that you back yourself, your organisation, and your vision this year. Make 2013 the year you changed gears. Make it the year you consciously refined yourself and your enterprise to be even more 'fit for purpose' than ever. Make 2013 the year to consciously evolve towards the highest aspirations and deepest yearnings you can. It may take a little daring, with a dash of risk, willingness to cooperate with your most positive potential, and a good dose of self-belief. With these ingredients you can cook up a life that is an even more wonderful contribution to the whole and a joy to experience as your own. At Presenter at Large we deeply believe in this possibility and use it as the 'true north' orientation for our own work.

We are fortunate to have great advocates for our own mission to significantly contribute to a more conscious and better human world through transformational education. We look forward to supporting you in fulfilling your own purpose and mission in life and in that, we remain at your service.

Arohanui, (and a happy Waitangi Day Wednesday for all our Kiwi subscribers!)
Amanda and Jude

PUBLIC WORKSHOPS - COMING UP VERY SOON

ACTIVATE YOUR HUMAN SUPERPOWERS (AYHSP’s)
Auckland February 16/17 (10am - 5pm both days)
If you sense an impulse in you to grow beyond any current limitations, or you want to consciously take the next steps in your personal evolution, unleash more creativity, contribute more, or release any handbrakes from your past, then this workshop is for you. We all have extraordinary powers that when matured; allow us to live the life of the fully expressed human. Secure your space on this practical workshop by registering here or contact Amanda with any questions. Come along with three or more friends and you can attend for $150 per person instead of the already crazy price of $195!! Not only will you have fun learning together, you will have a ready-made mutual support team of mates off the back end! Think about the value of that... If all this resonates somewhere inside, trust your guts and we’ll see you there!

ESSENTIALLY SPEAKING
Auckland March 1/2/3
We all know ‘engagement’ is critical when learning, communicating and working at whatever we do. Humans thrive on challenge and stimulation. You might be very passionate about your expertise but if you cannot connect and engage with your audience your efforts will impact your effectiveness. If you want to build your confidence and get your message across effectively, let us help you build your skills and your conviction. Feedback from this workshop is consistent re the immediate usefulness of the material and the transformational nature of the work. It ‘works’ and the results are lasting. Make this your year for communicating more effectively with individuals and groups. You can register here. NOTE: For workshops in Melbourne contact Jen Grinter at jengrinter@optusnet.com.au

THE ESSENCE OF FACILITATION
Auckland March 15/16/17
In two and a half days you will significantly enhance your value as a leader, teacher or trainer in all group settings by growing your awareness of the obvious and more subtle aspects of facilitation. This workshop is highly experiencial and suited to those fully engaged in and committed to their own growth. It is especially helpful for learning and development professionals of all persuasions. Spaces are limited so register your interest now to avoid disappointment.

BUSINESS KEYNOTES AND WORKSHOPS

Take advantage of a 2013 kick off energizer session and allow us to introduce your staff to their own superpowers. Between now and the end of our financial year (March 31), we are offering our client businesses a three-hour introduction to 'Activating Your Human Superpowers'. Every participant will receive an ecopy of the book by the same name. (We can supply hard copies for an additional 'cost only' price). Let us help ignite the fire in the bellies that will power up your enterprise and help you face whatever challenges are in store for 2013. Let us help your people drive innovation, creativity and growth. We are offering 50% off the full fee but we only have limited space in the diary so contact us now to book your session. (available only in New Zealand)

TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, COMMUNICATION, PRESENTATION AND FACILITATION SKILLS...
These are just a few the specialties we work with in-house with organisations and businesses. If you want to make the most of your team potential, consider meeting with us to discuss your training needs this year. We are one of very few truly transformational training organisations in the country, and we stand by our work with money-back guarantees. Contact Amanda to discuss your needs and we will send you an obligation-free proposal at no cost. You can read what others say about our work here.

RESOURCES - BOOKS FOR SALE

"I CAN SPEAK CLEARLY - now the pain has gone"
This book is a self-help guide to confident and competent presenting. The approach is principles based and as such maintains relevance in these changing times. If you are willing to find out what more you are (and there is always more to find), this book will help you express yourself. Read the ‘pre-reading bite’ here and see if this book is for you. "I CAN SPEAK CLEARLY" is available in Mobi (for Kindle), EPUB, PDF and paperback. You can get all versions here. This book is a great companion to the Essentially Speaking workshop - currently offered in Auckland and Melbourne.

"ACTIVATE YOUR HUMAN SUPERPOWERS - a path to your potential"
This book is Amanda’s latest (published late last year). It is also available in E and paperback formats. AYHSP’s is a powerful seed sower. It is a guide to happier living and personal fulfillment. In essence this book introduces the reader to five powers that when matured become ‘superpowers’ that are natural to fully matured humans. Read the ‘pre-reading bite’ here and see if this book is for you. It paints an expansive view of life for those who seek to co-create a better world. Get your copy here.

NOTE: ALL PROFITS FROM BOOK SALES GO TOWARDS SCHOLARSHIP PLACES ON PUBLIC WORKSHOPS.

There is such potential for change in the air - change for the better, for us all. Here’s to 2013 being one of those ‘best ever’ years!

Cheers,
Amanda and Jude

PS: The Soapbox will be back to the regular format next time. We appreciate you passing this email on and letting your friends and colleagues know we are here. Thanks!

Client Feedback:

ACTIVATE YOUR HUMAN SUPERPOWERS - feedback from Amanda’s new book:

"I loved this book, Fleming certainly has done her work. The information and the wealth of wisdom is astounding, I use it with my clients and I suggest they buy the book for themselves. I have read a lot of self help books but this is well written, well laid out and clearly Fleming understands the journey towards an individuals true potential. Very rarely to I give 5 stars but this is in a league far surpassing other self help books, its a must buy."

- Pattie (Seattle)

A DELICATE MATTER WITH FAR REACHING CONSEQUENCES

Aussie Prime Minister Julia Gillards’ announcement of the terms of reference of a Royal Commission of enquiry into sexual abuse of children in churches, schools and government institutions is a bold move (even though it shouldn’t be seen as such) and its going to uncover cans of worms for sure. It will no doubt bring at least some relief as victims are heard, perhaps for the first time. It will bring back traumatic memories for victims in those settings, and it will no doubt stir the pot for countless others abused in different settings by so called friends and family members – the very people children need to be able to trust. Most abuse victims have some sort of relationship with the abuser. The Royal Commission may have some pedophiles and predators ever so slightly concerned too. I wonder if any will be so remorseful as to own up and face their music?

In New Zealand we have plenty of sexual predators in our own back yard and it is safe to say those who are caught and prosecuted are a minority of the number who are offending. We can only guesstimate how many boys and girls, and women of all ages, have been and are subjected to sexual abuse. Despite progress in recent years, the whole subject is still relatively taboo but it is clear that a culture of abuse of women and children is deeply ingrained in human societies all over the world.

The ongoing furore over BBC TV personality Jimmy Saville’s long term offending with impunity, stories of cover-ups and all the ducking and diving that inevitably accompanies such investigations can surely be the tiniest tip of the iceberg in the UK too. It is an example of how blinded we can become when we don’t want to see. Then there is the recent hideous rape and murder of an innocent young woman in India, out for a movie and minding her own business with a friend. This widely publicized atrocity has highlighted the prevalence of rape and the abuse of women in Indian culture and has created calls for cultural change which will hopefully only grow louder. The human trafficking and the sex slave business continues to be a multi billion dollar industry and plenty of other cultures see women and children as exploitable commodities. Young men on Youtube having a laugh about a mate raping a comatose teen, is a modern example of some common and truly disturbing attitudes. From my view we are a pretty sick and immature species when seen through the sex lens.

So what are we to do about ourselves and our dysfunction? Perhaps our problems can be addressed in part through education along with the growth of a strong culture of intolerance of abuse. Victims also need to be empowered to speak up in a safe environment. This is easier said than done. It is incredibly easy to frighten or otherwise coerce a child (and even an adult) into silence. We are wired to survive, even if our silence plants the seeds of dis-ease inside as our experiences left unresolved eat away at self-esteem over time.

I understand this ‘eating away’ feeling well. My own sexual abuse happened one night when I was staying with my best friend’s family – on my very first summer holiday away from home. I was there for my seventh birthday. This family generously invited my brother and I to go away with them at a time when my mother (who was our sole parent) was unable to fund such a holiday herself. We were all very grateful and I was beside myself with excitement. That excitement turned to fear and simply surviving my holiday after the very first night – I was there for a week, which at seven years old felt like eternity.

My best friends’ father (who I had known for a year or so) woke me up with his activity and I can still vividly remember realizing what was happening and somehow swallowing the scream that rose up from my guts. I knew if he knew I was awake and aware he would have to kill me to stop me telling on him (this was my logic) so I endured the violation and pretended to be asleep. The next day I maneuvered a change to my sleeping space and each long night I stayed awake after everyone else when to sleep. He only came back one other time and when he saw I was awake he went away. I could only sleep once I knew he did. My fear of him kept me quiet long after the holiday. I did not disclose the incident until twenty years later. He died never knowing I knew what he did. He was never confronted and he abused other children too as I have come to discover. I still feel a sense of responsibility for that, even though none of the other children seem to have spoken out either. We let him ‘get away with it’.

You might think I must be mad not speaking up. I have certainly wondered myself over the years. I was a front line police officer for seven years for goodness sake! I had every resource I needed to file an historic complaint. I was close so many times and fear always stopped me. I would justify it was all so long ago. It was my word against his. My childhood memory would be discredited as fantasy. He was well liked in his community. I had no proof or witnesses. I didn’t want people seeing me as ‘tainted’ by it. Possibly the fear of being disbelieved was then the biggest block to my taking action. The responsibility of causing harm to my best friend and her mum weighed heavily too. I didn’t want to make a fuss and cause trouble. There were many facets to my silence. The times were different then and my procrastinations just grew into years and then decades of inaction regarding ‘him’. For myself, I did the work to resolve my own issues with it all and moved on as much as I could. It may seem weird to you but I still feel proud of a seven year old me that managed to minimize this to a one off experience – all by myself!

Today it might seem much easier for victims to speak up but we are still a long way from living in a culture where respect for each other regardless of age or gender is the norm. It is never ok to violate another person. The harm done is more costly on more levels than we realize and the solutions more complex than can be dealt with via laws alone. It is self-evident that for behaviour to change attitudes must change and for attitudes to change, values must change. We are living in a time where the devaluing of women and children is eroding societal fabric. It's a dangerous game to play using women as objects of pleasure and children as exploitable. We are creating a culture of fear when we could create a culture of care. 

Oh that it were as easy as applying respect respect and respect as a balm on everything and everyone. How our world might be different! May the victims in Australia and everywhere discover ways to re-empower themselves and not succumb to the slide into life-long ‘victim’ where the perpetrator retains the power. Reclaim your power (whatever it takes) and reclaim your life.

And that’s it, from my view.