When I consider my personal goals in my work; it is to bring each individual to their true self . . . and then give them the tools to realize who they are within their own environmental context, which means their immediate life situation.

How do we bring ourselves into internal alignment? We hear about helpful techniques for this. However, most mornings we begin our day tired, not quite prepared, and things seem out of focus. I assume if you have some type of “practice,” and have the time and determination to meditate, sit, do yoga, walk, write, read, work-out, or run you may feel pretty together.

There are other days that you don’t “practice,” and even if you do you may still feel not-quite-together. What do you do then? How do you proceed with the day? This is not about tomorrow or when we have more time, but now. I would like to hear from you about what you do.

Note: Often humor works or sometimes a quote from my research is enough to pull me together. Today I read: “My grandfather was different: he was old, smiling, gentle and in a constant state of love with me . . . he knew that the world of the very young and of the very old is essentially the same, namely a world of miracles one is about to discover or to lose.” (Muller, 2005, p. 103).

Muller, Robert. (2005). Most of all they taught me happiness. Los Angeles, CA: Amare Media.

 Consciously Participating in . . . Change

“When this happens, the field shifts, and the forces shaping a situation can move from re-creating the past to manifesting or realizing an emerging future. . . . In esoteric Christian traditions such shifts are associated with ‘grace’ or ‘revelation’ or the Holey Spirit.’ Taoist theory speaks of the transformation of vital energy (qing, pronounced ‘ching’) into subtle life force (qi, pronounced ‘chi’), and into spiritual energy (shin). This process involves an essential quieting of the mind that Buddhists call ‘cessation,’ wherein the normal flow of thoughts ceases and the normal boundaries between self and world dissolve. In Hindu traditions, this shift is called wholeness or oneness. In the mystic traditions of Islam, such as Sufism, it is known simply as ‘opening the heart.’ Each tradition describes this shift a little differently, but all recognize it as being central to personal cultivation or maturation.” (Senge, p. 14)

Senge, Peter, Scharmer, C. Otto, Jaworski, Joseph, Flowers, Betty Sue. (2004). Presence: An exploration of profound change in people, organizations, and society. New York: Currency, Doubleday.

How we feel about our work is directly mirrored in the performance of our work. If we are respectful inside we will communicate respect externally. If we are joyful, our work will express that joy. If we approach each task, communication or project as an artist, we will express our creativity.

Your work should not be your life . . . but it does have a significant impact on it. You are the first order of business. Think about what is important to you. Where will you be in five years? What do you hope to accomplish? Who will be in your life and will they recognize your accomplishments? What kind of life are your creating and do you want to continue to live your life in this way? To determine your vision and set your sights on achieving your aim, think about your response to these questions.