the visionary’s corner

In an earlier post, I wrote about the visionaries of today and their commitment to hope and peace, as well as their belief in the goodness and possibility of the universe and humankind. 

As I wrote those words, I couldn’t help but think of all the evidence that suggests that we live in a world that is far from peaceful and tolerant (war, poverty, reality TV!) and things are actually getting worse.  

So what are some indications that there is a shift underway and that we are collectively awakening to a new vision? 

Here are some examples that I see:

1) Spiritual consciousness is moving beyond religious doctrine and reaching the masses.  With the help of media mogul Oprah Winfrey, contemporary spiritual teacher and author Eckhart Tolle is sharing his message from A New Earth with hundreds of thousands of people around the world.  During their ten week live webcast (also available on demand), Oprah is facilitating a sort of “web-classroom discussion” that explores Tolle’s thoughts on:   

• - “How transcending our ego-based state of consciousness is not only essential to personal happiness, but also the key to ending conflict and suffering throughout the world.”
• - “How our attachment to the ego creates the dysfunction that leads to anger, jealousy, and unhappiness.”
•  - “How to awaken to a new state of consciousness and follow the path to a truly fulfilling existence.”

This new vision of spiritual consciousness creates connection and self-empowerment. 

2) Social consciousness is taking new forms of action.  Social entrepreneurs are revolutionizing the model for doing good for those in need.  Clever organizations like GlobalGiving.org and Kiva.org have transformed the act of charitable giving by allowing the donors and lenders to choose exactly who and where their money will go - a farmer in Tanzania, a school in Bolivia, an after-school program in Washington, DC. 

This new vision of social consciousness makes it clear that yes, every bit makes a difference.

3) Environmental consciousness is going mainstream.  This past year I noticed something new - green stories on the morning talk shows became a staple in the weekly line-ups (okay, maybe bi-weekly).  It appears that thinking green is no longer considered just for hippies, treehuggers or the mainstream on Earth Day.  Whether it’s a sincere concern or simply a desire to be trendy, I cannot imagine minds aren’t being expanded in the process.  

This new vision of environmental consciousness suggests that we are ready to ready to take responsibility and change our habits. 

What evidence do you see?

Are you struggling to get your ducks in a row?  Trying to get everything in order before you take some sort of action -maybe leave your job, launch a new initiative, start a business.  Are you delaying the realization of a vision?  

If you know the frustration of trying to get your ducks in a row, getting everything just right, all taken care of the way you want it to be, then you’ll enjoy this cartoon by Victoria Roberts’ (published in a 2004 issue of Real Simple magazine).

The caption with it reads:

As I mentioned in an earlier post, each quarter I will donate 5% of the proceeds from coaching and product sales to a Global Giving project. 

I spent the last week reviewing the database trying to decide which project to choose for this quarter.  It’s a tough decision because there are so many fantastic projects and important needs.Ultimately, I chose a project in honor of a coaching client who believes that as a teacher it’s her responsibility to not only teach kids their ABCs but to teach them to be productive members of society.

So, I am pledging my financial support to the Center For Inspired Teaching, The Center strives to inspire lasting change in the way students are taught by providing professional development programs for teachers.  These teachers are equipped with practical and effective teaching strategies that will engage students in meaningful and academically challenging work in some of our toughest communities.To learn more about The Center For Inspired Teaching and other projects at Global Giving, click here.

I just discovered the coolest project management system!  I didn’t know it but I had been looking for this for the last three years.  It’s called Basecamp and it can help you manage your projects, organize to-do lists, set milestones, even share information with collaborators in a flexible and adaptable manner. This web-based application offers several monthly packages ranging in price from $0 to $24/month on up.  The more you pay, the more projects you are allowed to create.  All packages include a free 30-day trial.

Who are the visionaries of today?  Are they the people with special abilities, insights or powers to influence and see into the future?  People wiser and more enlightened than you or I?

In my humble opinion, no. 

Today’s visionaries are the everyday women and men who are waking up to their true power and ability to create a more harmonious, responsible, and tolerant world.  

They are the optimists who balance realism with idealism. 

They are the hopeful ones who create opportunities and possibilities. 

They are the ones that see and experience pain and suffering yet hold steadfast to the belief that one small action can make a difference.  

They are the ones that even when they begin to loose hope, reach out to something bigger than themselves to reclaim their belief in the goodness of the universe and humankind.  

These people are today’s visionaries. 

New Year’s resolutions are almost always centered around well intentioned quests for self-improvement. Unfortunately, most resolutions don’t last. Within weeks, days, sometimes even hours, we are back to our old habits. No lasting change, just the familiar feeling of disappointment, guilt and frustration at our apparent inability to buckle down.

Why does this happen year after year? Is it because we are weak, lazy or undisciplined? No!

We ditch our resolutions because we have unconsciously allowed our inner critics to become our personal taskmasters on an ego-fueled quest for perfection. Ick.

I will give up simple carbs.
I will floss after every meal.
I will stop reading celebrity gossip blogs. (Yes, that’s mine!)

There’s nothing inherently wrong with these resolutions but do you sense an attitude of all-or-nothing rigidity, an air of judgment, a generally feeling of this-is-not-going-to-be-fun? That’s the energy coming from a resolution chosen by an inner critic. The inner critic is pretty clear that we are inadequate the way we are today, so it’s “time you get your butt in gear, buster!”

Who wants to be subjected to that sort of judgment? Not me!

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Creating lasting personal transformation, which is the purpose of a resolution, can be enriching, joyful and satisfying.

So here are my 5 tips on how to create joyful transformation in 2008:

(1) CELEBRATE 2007 - Review the year looking for things to celebrate, memories to cherish, and lessons to apply in 2008. If you can’t remember, look through your calendar to trigger memories. Capture whatever emerges in your favorite journal.  You can make lists, free flow journal, or draw about the past years highlights and lessons.

(2) RELEASE 2007 - Make a list of the things you want to let go of from last year - the mistakes, disappointments, failures, grievances. This list should be all the things that that will become emotional and mental baggage if carried into the new year. Now read over each item and explore how it served to show you a lesson. Then thank it for helping you grow, and forgive yourself for any judgment, criticism or resistance you put up in the face of this lesson. Now the fun part. Get a thick marker and write in big letters over the list “THANK YOU. NOW, I RELEASE YOU. GOODBYE.” If you like you can burn, bury or shred the paper, just to really get the point across, you are releasing 2007!

(3) VISION FROM THE FUTURE - This is a right-brain activity that shocks me every time I do it for myself! You are going to write a letter to a trusted, loved one, but you are going to date it in the future. Let’s make it December 31, 2008. Tell them about all your successes and joys, the lessons you learned and adventures you took. Also, tell them a little bit about how you did these things, how it all unfolded. (This is the right-brain part that allows you to bypass the inner critic and reveal the “resolutions” that are aligned with your authentic core.)

(4) CHOOSE INTENTIONS - Now review the letter you wrote to your trusted loved one and consciously choose the actions you want to take in 2008, the actions that will lead you to the future you visualized. These are your new year intentions (resolution is so 2007).

(5) FIND A SYMBOL - Choose a symbol that will remind you of the future you intend to create this year. Something that connects with your vision. It could be an image, a quote, a song, or something you created like a drawing, collage, or even piece of clothing. Be creative!

That’s it folks! Have fun with this process, and remember, keep your intentions fun, joyful and always keep them aligned with your authentic core!

CALL TO ACTION ::

Will you help me start a dialogue? Post a comment to share your celebrations, lessons learned, mistakes released or intentions set.