Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Rio Summit 2012 - Leadership Thoughts In Adventure - What Matters?
Wake-Up World: A Non-Destructive Economy - Ian Lewis
So instead of creating more, greater and faster, we use less power, less raw-material, less transport and thus sustain our one world.
Michael Gove is right. More intellectual, more artistic, more philosophical education which leads to greater scientific, greater discrimination, higher artistic enjoyment and with this lower environmental costs.
We do not have to be shallow, values-free, over-the-top, media-hyped, fashion followers. We can be deeply committed beings of great self-worth who self-lead.
The artistic, the intellectual, the healthy, the creative, the highly rewarding are just a few examples of what makes up a sustainable economy within worthwhile lives.
For instance, nuclear and oil-based power are sad reflections of collective creativity, for whilst we can send oil across continents, cannot manage nuclear-waste economically yet know 0.3% of Saharan sun can power Europe. This takes awhile for energy companies to see the opportunities, yet a mindful attitude to lower power usage as a values-base in education and learning could have immediate effect. Who actually enjoys driving anyway? Hours/days of lives wasted?
For food issues read sensible carbon- and conservation-conscious farming, eating healthy (low-fat, -sugar & -meat diets), and using land well.
For manufacturing common-sense consider items being used for extended times – pictures & picture-frames last centuries, as does, for example, some furniture, buildings, art, parks/forests/gardens and musical instruments. All have a remarkably high value-to- raw-material ratio - and they accrue value whilst supplying great enjoyment.
Yet even these are left standing by the mental and physical (let alone the spiritual) attributes of being fully human and the low-carbon economic value available here. The intellectual arts, performing arts (reading, writing, dance, comedy, drama), visual arts, sporting excellence, hobbies and crafts and all the fun areas of being which celebrate the human capacity are virtually ignored in favour of high-carbon un-stainable living. Time for a gentle change?
Come on world, wake up. Teachers, listen to Gove - part of what he says is right even if for the wrong reasons: Rio 2012 Environmental Summit matters, but it must be creative and we should be active in self-leading change.
So instead of creating more, greater and faster, we use less power, less raw-material, less transport and thus sustain our one world.
Michael Gove is right. More intellectual, more artistic, more philosophical education which leads to greater scientific, greater discrimination, higher artistic enjoyment and with this lower environmental costs.
We do not have to be shallow, values-free, over-the-top, media-hyped, fashion followers. We can be deeply committed beings of great self-worth who self-lead.
The artistic, the intellectual, the healthy, the creative, the highly rewarding are just a few examples of what makes up a sustainable economy within worthwhile lives.
For instance, nuclear and oil-based power are sad reflections of collective creativity, for whilst we can send oil across continents, cannot manage nuclear-waste economically yet know 0.3% of Saharan sun can power Europe. This takes awhile for energy companies to see the opportunities, yet a mindful attitude to lower power usage as a values-base in education and learning could have immediate effect. Who actually enjoys driving anyway? Hours/days of lives wasted?
For food issues read sensible carbon- and conservation-conscious farming, eating healthy (low-fat, -sugar & -meat diets), and using land well.
For manufacturing common-sense consider items being used for extended times – pictures & picture-frames last centuries, as does, for example, some furniture, buildings, art, parks/forests/gardens and musical instruments. All have a remarkably high value-to- raw-material ratio - and they accrue value whilst supplying great enjoyment.
Yet even these are left standing by the mental and physical (let alone the spiritual) attributes of being fully human and the low-carbon economic value available here. The intellectual arts, performing arts (reading, writing, dance, comedy, drama), visual arts, sporting excellence, hobbies and crafts and all the fun areas of being which celebrate the human capacity are virtually ignored in favour of high-carbon un-stainable living. Time for a gentle change?
Come on world, wake up. Teachers, listen to Gove - part of what he says is right even if for the wrong reasons: Rio 2012 Environmental Summit matters, but it must be creative and we should be active in self-leading change.
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Superpositioning in Allness
Superpositioning oneself is a great way into allness – that state where one attunes to the 11 million or so simultaneous connectors in one's brain and thus is not disturbed by the constraints and inhibitions of single or few-framed consciousness imposed during early childhood and social conditioning.
Of course one remains conscious in a superpositioned state, but it takes a form of journeying around the possibilities in allness, not of being stuck in time, particularly the now – useful but now outmoded/transcended. Better even than this is superpositional consciousness where one is in all places and all times and all universes at once. Holding this place through a process of letting go, of daring to be all, not merely seeing all, is at the heart of our true being in the manifold worlds we inhabit. Some of the lifecollege.org experiences focus on the attainment of superpositional consciousness through personalised journeying. Connect with Pippa Lee and her Energetic Coaching at lifecollege.org
It will take time to let go, to travel into allness and realise that we are all and always have been. It is a great place and will reward those who break-through however they self-realise themselves – through meditation, dance, music, performance, stillness, physical exertion, great achievements, and all extreme adventures of mind, body and spirit...for by definition access to allness is achieved through extremes since this is where one finds oneself.
My next input will examine the influence of being allness on the multiverse and how one may contribute and take from time, space, being and all other energies. If interested, please acknowledge this blog!
Of course one remains conscious in a superpositioned state, but it takes a form of journeying around the possibilities in allness, not of being stuck in time, particularly the now – useful but now outmoded/transcended. Better even than this is superpositional consciousness where one is in all places and all times and all universes at once. Holding this place through a process of letting go, of daring to be all, not merely seeing all, is at the heart of our true being in the manifold worlds we inhabit. Some of the lifecollege.org experiences focus on the attainment of superpositional consciousness through personalised journeying. Connect with Pippa Lee and her Energetic Coaching at lifecollege.org
It will take time to let go, to travel into allness and realise that we are all and always have been. It is a great place and will reward those who break-through however they self-realise themselves – through meditation, dance, music, performance, stillness, physical exertion, great achievements, and all extreme adventures of mind, body and spirit...for by definition access to allness is achieved through extremes since this is where one finds oneself.
My next input will examine the influence of being allness on the multiverse and how one may contribute and take from time, space, being and all other energies. If interested, please acknowledge this blog!
Monday, 9 April 2012
Visionary or Visionery?
Visionary or Visionery?
Both spellings are correct, although visionary seems to be least offensive to spellcheckers.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about being visionary, or being a visionery, is that we are taken as a negative, even a frustration to anything useful.
Some definitions:
“given to or characterized by fanciful, not presently workable, or un-practical ideas, views, or schemes: a visionary enthusiast”; “unreal; imaginary; visionary evils”; “Affected by phantoms; disposed to receive impressions on the imagination; given to reverie; apt to receive, and act upon, fancies as if they were realities.”; “Existing in imagination only; not real; fanciful; imaginary; having no solid foundation; as, visionary prospect; a visionary scheme or project.”; “One whose imagination overpowers his reason and controls his judgment; an unpractical schemer; one who builds castles in the air; a daydreamer.”
My favourite is somewhat more positive: “a person of unusually keen foresight.” It is also rather more succinct.
So why the negativity?
Looking at the effect of a 'visionary' on a more mechanistic person, i.e., someone more driven by habit, stayed-culture (e.g., proven or logical), the more cautious or non-adventurer, we see the origins of a particular form of leadership - the visionary leader. Such leaders naturally (and perhaps thankfully) cause issues for the more mechanistic. Although there is no evidence to show mutual exclusivity, it is frequently assumed to great cost.
Visionary leadership theories (which can be termed 'transformational' and may be NLP, Lifecollege, Landmark or otherwise based on future/not past), are all charismatic in some form. Tutors are high to very-high in self-esteem, occasionally bordering on the evangelistic. Learning often involves confidence-building and personal trials – to break past or inhibiting habits.
The learning is at 'events', where a stage is often present and at which it is the the facilitator's ability to tie a follower's self-concept and later self-esteem to the actualization of the leader's goals that comprises the essence of leadership evidenced at events. Transformational learning theories (e.g., Lewis, 2011, Values & Leadership; Lewis, 2012, Further Reaches of Human Nature) support these traditional models of motivation – including Pink's Three (Mastery, Autonomy, Contribution).
It is expected that both students and facilitators enjoy the mutual 'leader – follower' power effects these events generate. Indeed it is frequently the case that it is this effect that is being invested in and which, all being well will create the more confident and successful followers.
It is certainly true that both the tutor and the student can benefit in a transformational way from the experience.
Both spellings are correct, although visionary seems to be least offensive to spellcheckers.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about being visionary, or being a visionery, is that we are taken as a negative, even a frustration to anything useful.
Some definitions:
“given to or characterized by fanciful, not presently workable, or un-practical ideas, views, or schemes: a visionary enthusiast”; “unreal; imaginary; visionary evils”; “Affected by phantoms; disposed to receive impressions on the imagination; given to reverie; apt to receive, and act upon, fancies as if they were realities.”; “Existing in imagination only; not real; fanciful; imaginary; having no solid foundation; as, visionary prospect; a visionary scheme or project.”; “One whose imagination overpowers his reason and controls his judgment; an unpractical schemer; one who builds castles in the air; a daydreamer.”
My favourite is somewhat more positive: “a person of unusually keen foresight.” It is also rather more succinct.
So why the negativity?
Looking at the effect of a 'visionary' on a more mechanistic person, i.e., someone more driven by habit, stayed-culture (e.g., proven or logical), the more cautious or non-adventurer, we see the origins of a particular form of leadership - the visionary leader. Such leaders naturally (and perhaps thankfully) cause issues for the more mechanistic. Although there is no evidence to show mutual exclusivity, it is frequently assumed to great cost.
Visionary leadership theories (which can be termed 'transformational' and may be NLP, Lifecollege, Landmark or otherwise based on future/not past), are all charismatic in some form. Tutors are high to very-high in self-esteem, occasionally bordering on the evangelistic. Learning often involves confidence-building and personal trials – to break past or inhibiting habits.
The learning is at 'events', where a stage is often present and at which it is the the facilitator's ability to tie a follower's self-concept and later self-esteem to the actualization of the leader's goals that comprises the essence of leadership evidenced at events. Transformational learning theories (e.g., Lewis, 2011, Values & Leadership; Lewis, 2012, Further Reaches of Human Nature) support these traditional models of motivation – including Pink's Three (Mastery, Autonomy, Contribution).
It is expected that both students and facilitators enjoy the mutual 'leader – follower' power effects these events generate. Indeed it is frequently the case that it is this effect that is being invested in and which, all being well will create the more confident and successful followers.
It is certainly true that both the tutor and the student can benefit in a transformational way from the experience.
Monday, 2 April 2012
Mind the Gap – the Big Society Gap
Mind the Gap – the Big Society Gap
The Big Society is out there. It seems the only criticism is that some cannot make enough money from it. Shame on you. It is of course, in its non-monetary way, rough at the edges, variously present in a big way or small, solidly present in 'happy' communities and often seen as 'a little working class, council estate, and to do with times past' by those who see little of the help it gives them. Yet these descriptors confound our less happy communities. It is far wider and far more influential in its present form, than given credit for. And the Big Society - and its potential - are both huge.
So let us move towards the Big Society potential. It is all! It can change lives. It can move us towards and even be the cause of our being the happiest nation on Earth. Oh, now this is telling. The happiest nation on Earth is not the richest or even nearly so. What is the per-capita GDP of Bhutan? What is the average income? Hmmm, now where does this get us?
Did this start with a concern about money? So let us drop this, since there is evidence that money does not make you happy. Where is the gap, exactly? Is it the need for depressive negativity (blaming the 'they'/someone else) in an otherwise every-reason-to-be-quite-positive society? A society where those who have will keep and those who have not will not get because of the keepers? Now, here we have some useful dividers...are there keepers out there?
This society – yes, the Big One, has many positive contributors. It is the neighbours and those along the street, of course. As it is our friends in the village, our work-colleagues and our networks, teams, industry, commerce, sport and the arts. We just need to up the game, realise the potential....start liking people, including ourselves, and learn to trust, to give a little more towards a nicer world – One Big Society. And a smile.
The Big Society is out there. It seems the only criticism is that some cannot make enough money from it. Shame on you. It is of course, in its non-monetary way, rough at the edges, variously present in a big way or small, solidly present in 'happy' communities and often seen as 'a little working class, council estate, and to do with times past' by those who see little of the help it gives them. Yet these descriptors confound our less happy communities. It is far wider and far more influential in its present form, than given credit for. And the Big Society - and its potential - are both huge.
So let us move towards the Big Society potential. It is all! It can change lives. It can move us towards and even be the cause of our being the happiest nation on Earth. Oh, now this is telling. The happiest nation on Earth is not the richest or even nearly so. What is the per-capita GDP of Bhutan? What is the average income? Hmmm, now where does this get us?
Did this start with a concern about money? So let us drop this, since there is evidence that money does not make you happy. Where is the gap, exactly? Is it the need for depressive negativity (blaming the 'they'/someone else) in an otherwise every-reason-to-be-quite-positive society? A society where those who have will keep and those who have not will not get because of the keepers? Now, here we have some useful dividers...are there keepers out there?
This society – yes, the Big One, has many positive contributors. It is the neighbours and those along the street, of course. As it is our friends in the village, our work-colleagues and our networks, teams, industry, commerce, sport and the arts. We just need to up the game, realise the potential....start liking people, including ourselves, and learn to trust, to give a little more towards a nicer world – One Big Society. And a smile.
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
Seeing and being the future
To see the future do not use eyes, use vision. One makes the future so by holding and living this vision.
There are those who want a different future and continue living the present - or even the past. Please, if a different future is what is desired, at least give this future a chance.
In all there exists a framework of habit which exists to keep the status quo: no change, no improvements, nothing disturbed. It is helpful - up to the obviously very limiting point that if nothing changes, nothing changes or 'The more you do of what you've done, the more you'll get of what you've got'. One may even change the breathing, eating and temperature habits in our lives - indeed, doing so may speed our future into being.
Perhaps surprisingly, the future is not a place or a time that starts in the future. It starts right now....from here onwards.
Thus, to change the future, start now. What one wants to happen (differently) begins here. Every vision of the future has 'attributes'. The beliefs, behaviours, actions, thoughts, emotions, values, skills and expectations which form one's future life need embracing. To embrace these is to form one's future.
One needs to understand that one sees not what we are holding on to, yet it is exactly this that is forming our present - and our current, our existing future. Once we change what one is holding onto, the future changes. So look very closely at what one is holding onto, for it is holding one, here, too.
A great exercise is to write down, reflect or meditate on what we are holding. Through this route what is held onto can be changed - easily. Compare past with future. Hold onto what one wants - the one really wanted. Leave the other behind...and whoosh - we have a new future.
Stay in the now to keep the old habit/s out, and stay in the future wanted.
Sometimes there is a challenge. New skills may be needed, new knowledge, new understandings - these are the easy ones. New friends are easier than new family. A new life, a new way of being, whilst a great excitement to some, is a huge rift for others.
Here comes right balance. Knowing what to let go and what one may keep. Some things are mutually exclusive, of course. Think about this. Others may want to travel, too, and some may say 'Yes!' and exhibit 'No!'. Discrimination, presence, action....yet always vision.
Comments please!
Friday, 9 March 2012
The Games of Life
And so, here in 2012, we are a humanity of tricked game players. We are those who have chosen which games to play or we are those who have not chosen but are to play the games of others' choosing. And we are those, the corporations, the governments, the institutions, who are the big game organisers. These also comprise humans, but are not human. These, who have and who have not chosen, but who choose the games we are all to play and, through accident, inability or conspiracy, set the rules.
We play the games because humanity, like most life, depends on pattern-recognition to make sense of its world. Chairs are chairs, friends are friends, work is work, life is life. Fail to fit the pattern and acceptance will likely not be. It is quite a set of games. And all difficult to change.
The main rule is to engage with the rules, for to fail to engage the rules creates outsiders, deviants, innovators, death or even leaders....all, or mostly, lonely positions. These are great places!
One does not tend to win in the game, it is more that one survives to a greater or lesser degree. This would appear to be the aim of the corporation, the government, the institution: to allow survival in a controlled way. Through the rules of history, cultures and unintended consequences, we conform to the games and play - as actors on the stages of life - the correct roles, in the main.
To survive the ravages of a starving or thirsty nation (or, maybe with some earlier choices), wars, one may not have options unless other nations help. To escape the work-wheel game of training>employment>retirement one must win the lottery, be inventive or find an inheritance. To win the game of friends one must conform to friendship game rules - have personality and interest equal-to or greater-than one's peers. To enjoy one's family strict adhesion to its special rules is demanded – or a black sheep you will be. Be careful those who suggest better ways to spend our taxes, organise the fundamental game-rules of economics or change the rules of 'politics' or 'authority', for special rules apply to these deviant gamers and they will be challenged and most likely silenced.
Of course academics have a special 'Game of Knowledge', although this is undergoing a game-makeover due to mass communication. We now have Wikipedia, et al, to share the knowledge-counters, and the counters of skill, understandings and attitudes with which one wins the academic game. A similar, although as yet only partial, game-makeover has been applied to our 'Economic Game', with a recent huge counter-play by the old winners. There is evidence that 'The Political Game' is due a similar makeover through Avaaz, 38degrees and others of the internet-play. Families have been evolving their game for aeons, with state assistance, migration and learning/education the great trump-cards and game-changers.
Then we have the game of 'Break-Out'. Available to those who choose to ignore or follow rules of prevailing games rules. These are they who play the game of new communities. Or they play the game of 'Lets Make It All Better', seeing new patterns, new ways to win through with ever-changing rules of creativity, evolution, being, etc..
And who wins in this World of Games? Well, we have an answer and it seems not to be 42, unimaginable wealth or a guaranteed step on the stairway to heaven after we leave the Earthly Game Board.
The answer seems to be 'Great Happiness' which comprises the following. But to achieve this we have to step outside the standard set of 'Game Rules' which seem the 'Academic Game' evidence shows rarely leads to happiness for players anywhere.
Win the 'Happiness Game by....
having enough but not too much
making others happy
keeping healthy
doing something worthwhile, that 'makes a difference', but which does not cost/damage the earth
having really great friends
having integrity (trust in self and trusting others?)
having a spirit with enough courage, independence and adventure
It is a great game, the real game of life.
Who said there is not a jot of evidence that life is meant to be serious?
Was it Jane McGonigal or Woody Allen?
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