Zen’s Sporadic Blog

Openness and Vulnerability in Crafting Our Future

November 30, 2015 by Zen

Openness and Vulnerability – A Holistic Imperative?

Openness and vulnerability are often misunderstood. I may be completely off track here, but there seems to be a reticence toward openness and vulnerability across the dynamics of human relationships. The concerns for acceptance, safety and security appear to be at the root of this resistance. I don’t think I’m alone in this regard as I’ve had many private discussions that support this observation.

Standard definition: Emotional vulnerability is a state of weakness that can be brought on by the end of a relationship, insecurities or a number of other reasons. Being emotionally vulnerable means that you’re not emotionally stable enough to sustain a thriving, healthy relationship. Empowered definition: Being vulnerable in a relationship means allowing your partner to know you fully: your thoughts, feelings, challenges, weaknesses. It can be scary to show those sides to our partners out of fear of being judged.

How do we move beyond the boundaries of self-inflicted separation when we profess to believe that a holistic perspective is imperative in the world today? This state of being we seek is a fearlessness toward rejection, certainly the position familiar to great salesmen. Like Og Mandino’s message in The Greatest Salesman in the World; the ancient wisdom contained in scrolls that, when followed, transforms one’s life for the better.

From corporate conundrums in workplace learning and performance to political postulates for serving the needs of society to religious rhetoric meant to free our souls’ purpose to manifest in our daily lives… it’s a full stop when simple and obvious questions arise. Openness and vulnerability allow us to answer those questions authentically. The truth seems to be always less than full disclosure and is often obfuscated by the lack of vulnerability.

What Is?

How do we first find and then share truth without spending decades or millennia arguing about it? Can we just acknowledge ‘what is’? Great question… what is? How can we determine that without openness and vulnerability?

We, as a world, are faced with some very important choices as we seek to transform our past profit-driven and less than human friendly decisions into creating a world that makes sense. Life-friendly choices are muddled by cash flow projections, personal liabilities, professional limitations and excuses for not acting in accordance with what we profess to believe – our ability to act in love and with mindfulness.

Openness and vulnerability are key elements of asking poignant and powerful questions.

Too often that love is conditional, with expectations that are neither spoken or fulfilled because of our inability to articulate the wisdom we hold as spiritual beings in human form. There isn’t one religion that denies that we are indeed manifestations of some greater intelligence. So where is that intelligence showing up now?

Leadership

Across the gamut of world government and resource management (human and material) we are experiencing a call for transformation toward something more harmonious, a movement toward telling the truth and working with ‘what is’ rather than hidden agendas and excuses for irresponsible actions.

What I find confusing is the apparent indignation of ‘authorities’ who we’ve looked to for leadership. Instead of revealing a reality that we can all agree is true, there are countless backroom meetings to figure out how to subvert the population into a manageable mass that remains uninformed and even unconscious to their own capability and potential as human beings. This behavior completely denies the human spirit and the possibility of acknowledging that we are spiritual beings at all.

So how do we transform our world even when our leadership is resistant to the changes that are obviously needed to guide our planetary civilization forward?

Answers Come with Openness and Vulnerability

I don’t have all the answers. I may not have any of them. But, I suspect that many across the world are getting fed up with being diagnosed, labeled and accused of being unrealistic. I also perceive that the multitudes of finger-pointers and whistle blowers are affecting the population, but not necessarily in the best way possible.

Exposing the truth often causes a rise in anger and frustration that, unchecked, can lead to even more catastrophic behavior. The nature of attention commits energy to flow toward the object(s) of focus. We know that well now, especially with the proliferation of the Law of Attraction. So far, it seems the focus is still on personal satisfaction.

It is apparent that attention, intention and action are the keys for creating any kind of change in our existing experience or environment. The option to retain openness and vulnerability is so full of potential. How we capitalize on that potential has nothing to do with capitalism.

Questions

Where is our focus?
Are we looking outside of ourselves for validation?
Do we look to the skies or on the ground for answers?
Do we look deep within for help from a higher source?
Do we propose new possibilities for using our skill sets to better mankind?

If you’ve got some ideas or are needing a career change, folks like me can help. If you want to create or find a better flow, hire a coach that’s qualified to stand and deliver. Check them out first. We aren’t all equal by any stretch of the imagination.

Communication for Collaboration

September 23, 2015 by Zen

Communication for Collaboration…

Please allow me just to launch into sharing. This post was originally shared on the EDx website of uschool.presencing.com. MIT is taking the coursework for collaboration to a whole new level.

I’ve been waiting for opportunities to address communication for collaboration for some time, so excuse the spewing. I love to share and my fingers often do the walking… all over. I have a lot to share built up over years of experience, with a lot of exposure to leading edge knowledge and thinking.

My attention is on the continual, perpetual change within that drives the bus to paradise… harmony among people and planet – the result of natural order emerging in humanity. I believe that is a primary and prudent path. So, here goes…

Challenges for Change

Liabilities, Limitations, Excuses (notice the ‘lle’ is removed from challenge and ‘change’ is automatic) – Accountability and responsibility we ignore as stewards, restrictions we put on our willingness to engage life fully and rationalizations for behaving in less than beneficial ways toward each other and the planet. Communication for collaboration is tantamount for change.

We’re steeped in old paradigms, lazy in our personal lives and unwilling to step into personal commitments to things bigger than us. The three things I see that keep us reenacting are massive consumerism, fear of diversity and selfish attitudes.

I began this journey as a teenager in 1975, after an event that turned my life upside down. I have a unique perspective now, derived from both internal and external experience of it. Albeit seeming incredulous from ‘normal’ thinking, my life has been about understanding truth and learning how to facilitate a new world order – harmony among people and planet. If you’d like more, you can read this.

Deep listening includes multiple dimensions, so good to see it being presented. The past 40 years and more I’ve been listening to things most folks haven’t been hearing, yet professing they exist. Now it is obviously different and I am so excited to be part of this class and process. Some years ago (2002) I crafted a presentation to engage folks toward creating Spectrum Academy, the work an outcome of my MA in Organizational Management.

Movement in the Thoughtmosphere

I’ve explored the dimensions of consciousness and relativity to human experience in an evolving planetary civilization and written about my discoveries and further questions in Stubbing My T.O.E. on Purpose : A Seminal View of Consciousness, Cosmology and the Congruence of Science and Spirituality.

I had the opportunity to produce and host a television show in the early 90s called One World and addressed the inner/outer nature of personal evolution toward achieving goals and dream realization or as we might otherwise call it, self-realization. This interview sets the stage. During that same period, I had a wild notion and followed it to share a live metaphor for transformation.

I organized the 2010 annual conference for the local chapter of the American Society for Training and Development here in Phoenix. Its title and theme… The Shift: Challenge to Change – removing liabilities, limitations and excuses in the workplace.

I’m currently working with peer advisory groups and developing a local community of conscious discussions and engagement toward collaborative actions- locally, regionally and globally. I also had the opportunity to facilitate partnering workshops, one of them was the F-35 Operations and Maintenance Facility construction at Luke AFB in Glendale, AZ.

The New Time

The timing of this article and the work engaged is exquisite. We’re in a window of change, the movement between ages that, according Jose’ Arguelles interpretation of the Mayan Calendar in our discussion some years ago is approximately 50 years in duration.

The window opened during the Harmonic Convergence and precipitated a waxing of awareness/consciousness until the tipping point of the Winter Solstice of 2012. It may sound on the fringe of knowledge and thinking, yet the aspects of its reality are becoming more mainstream.

On the other side, we begin to implement this boon in awareness back into existing systems for righting the relation-ships of life and living in this world. The first few years are a little wonky because the commitments and dedication of the ‘change agents’ cause a redistribution or re-positioning of their skill set and cohorts.

The latter is what U.Lab is addressing, in my opinion, with Theory U. Where do we go from here? We know we’re here, or at least many of us do. Some have even recognized the notion that we are indeed cosmic consciousness condensed into form and far more capable of facilitating change that the majority may realize.

Some of us even seem so contrary to popular belief that we’ve been ‘sanctioned’ by the groups that would normally be open to accepting us based on their professed beliefs. Unfortunately or fortunately, we keep moving forward from a place of BEing that is simply undeniable and unstoppable.

My heart leaps with joy at the prospect of having access to and engaging such a magnificent effort and group of dedicated planetary citizens. I’m honored and humbled to be able to participate in any way.

The Shift is Happening Now.. are you?

The ‘old world order’ is waning, dying a natural death. A new world order of harmony among people and planet is birthing now, rising from the ashes, so to speak. I’ve been in many environments personally and professionally where I’ve had the opportunity to observe and respond to inner promptings.

I had a recent interview about life coaching where I discuss some of those components of communication for collaboration. The divides used to show up quite often. I had the notion, based on the early emotional imprinting from being an orphan, that I had a lot to offer, but I would be rejected at some point. That belief eventually changed with a lot of personal work.

Now, I live my life as I determine – free of organizational constraints – because I’m working with those who embrace my thoughtmosphere and support the notion of building a collaborative community locally and globally. We have to learn to work together toward our mutual sustainability, people and planet, or we’ll self-destruct.

Most recently I’ve been working with peer advisory groups, was co-host of a business-talk radio show and built a small business curriculum website that will have my ‘special sauce’ sprinkled through traditional small business development processes and protocols. Just this last weekend (Sept. 19, 2015) I was interviewed on Bigger Questions in Los Angeles, CA.

We discussed the gamut from the Galactic Federation to the efforts of this U.Lab course to practical applications of team building for projects aligned with harmony among people and planet as evidence of the communication for collaboration.

The former is something yet to be seen as a reality by most, yet obviously being considered as we learn more about our relationship with the cosmos. The latter brings the new living awareness into a chaordic system, building upon Peter Senge’s work.

Hints from Our Indigenous Mentors

So truly we are moving from the Fourth World to the Fifth (Hopi – Northern Hemisphere), from the Fifth World to the Sixth (Mayan – Southern Hemisphere) and it is the time in which the devil takes off his mask to reveal the true god he is (Aztec). We’ve been remiss in recognizing our divinity.

By the latter I understand that we have been inducted into believing in a devil, an evil force, when in actuality [it] has been simply the test of choices in learning how to live in harmony, previously being ego-driven and self-centered. Communication for collaboration focus on attention, intention and action toward passion-filled purposeful goals.

Now we’re learning the process of ego to wego… no one can go unless/until we all go. Now, would a transformational life coach with the depth of experience be able to help you? Here’s an article from a trusted source that offers additional aspects of why you would want to hire a life coach.

Challenge to Change

September 8, 2015 by Zen

We owe a lot to Carl’s work with the psyche in the challenge to change. In my experience I find that his statement about critical reason rings true, often in self-analysis as well. We diminish our own credibility with behaviors to the contrary. For instance, I had a coach some time ago that caught me by surprise with the clarity of his sight.

He noticed that as soon as something insightful or profound came out of my mouth, I would have this sheepish laugh that discounted the words. It was so baaaad. I saw the truth in his observation immediately and, with some effort, curtailed the behavior. As a result I noticed an increase in self-confidence.

Perhaps you have behaviors that stem from critical reasoning that dis-empowers and pauperizes you and/or others in your life. Reasoning is important, but taking it to the extreme (like anything) turns a good thing into an overbearing pattern that strikes at the very core of our ability to flow. It spans the gamut of personal and professional environments as well. Take a look and see where you might be engaging this poor dance partner and let them sit this one out.

Many years ago during my MA program, one of the groups presented the idea that challenge and change only had three letters difference. I mention this on the homepage of this website as well. The ‘lle‘ in my own way led me to look at liabilities, limitations and excuses in my personal and professional life. Wow, what a wake up call that was.

Almost a decade later this same phrase, challenge to change, came up again while sitting on the Board of Directors for the local chapter of the American Society for Training and Development (now Association for Talent Development) in 2010 as President Elect. My task at the time was to create the annual event for our Valley of the Sun Chapter. I wanted to use the phrase, but wasn’t sure just how to pull it off.

Synchronistically, within a couple of weeks I got a phone call from a past president of the National Speakers Association, noting his awareness of my task and asking if he could help. I didn’t know Neil at the time, but our conversation soon turned amazingly productive. I mentioned considering the phrase as a theme for the conference and within moments ‘The Shift: Challenge to Change – removing liabilities, limitations and excuses in the workplace‘ was born.

The theme was a hit and comments reflected it was one of the best events in the last decade, so I was pleased that our efforts and the presenters who contributed were so well received. As organizations go, I left shortly thereafter because I felt overwhelmed with the responsibility of the President’s office and felt little support from the board at the time with the exception of a few. They weren’t enough to keep me satisfied.

What happened, though, was the momentum continued and the organization started to grow again thanks to those few who did weather the storm; the challenge to change was met. I was led to do other things for several years and just recently was contacted to help strategize the 2015 annual conference. I was more than happy to do so and, to my surprise, was asked to speak at it as well. Now I just have to come up with a topic. Right?

I hope that you can see yourself in the throes of change and meeting (if not transcending) your own challenges in the coming days, weeks and years ahead. Of course, I’m always here to help. That’s what I do. I’ve got a little experience in it as you might imagine. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you reach out to help others, too.

Aspiration for Inspiration

August 11, 2015 by Zen

Who maintains the aspiration for inspiration in your world or your organization? Of course we want to have the best work atmosphere and the most productive employees and staff, right?Most of the time the progressive companies and organizations use one or many of the plethora of talent and team building tools.

Other companies, or rather their leadership and stakeholders, miss out on those advantages and wonder why morale and production are at far less capacity that possible. Happy people get more done with less supervision.

It is now well established that motivation does not come from external means, rather it comes from the inspiration one feels toward performing at peak levels. What is obfuscated is the notion that the inspiration is about performance.

Performance is secondary to the state of mind/body/spirit of the individual, the whole person and not just their behavior on the job. We call that a holistic system. It’s heart-centered, too.

It may be that the aspiration for inspiration is being overlooked or simply under explored in the data delivered from the variety of assessments and surveys in play. How would one, especially a human resource or company leader, capitalize on such foolish notions?

Inspiration would appear a critical piece of the new millennial business model, especially when cognitive science and quantum physics are exploring and revealing the manner in which we think and feel demonstrably affects our reality.

Is this all just fantasy or a reality we have simply been ignoring in the quest for market share and shareholder dividends? If you are curious in the slightest it may behoove you, as a leader or manager, to explore the benefits of identifying and even opportunistically utilizing the understanding of the shifts in talent development so often overlooked.

Perhaps we are at the beginning of a growing trend in human resource development. Ask your talent development professional what they think. How can you aspire to inspire your life and workplace?

Many of us know there is a place within us we all share, but that understanding is not ubiquitous, and may never be amongst the current population. That is unfortunate and may be malleable still. Inspiration is the key to moving the needle on the sustainability scale, too.

Over time and with persistence, the aspiration for inspiration may radically change. People might indeed focus on being inspired instead of completing tasks. I live and work as though it will, with faith, love and trust in the inevitability of a newly ordered world in our lifetimes.

Your perception is enhanced by introspection.

The elements in the graphic at the top of this article are just the beginning. Conversations built around them can prove invaluable in building the community within your company or organization.

In a sense aspiration, commitment, desire, flexibility, knowledge, strategy and tools are the foundation for innovation in community building, whether it be brick and mortar, click and mortar or digital domains.

Truly, happy people get more done with less supervision through their inspiration. In fact, inspired people rise above any adversity and create opportunities where none were seen previously. Where would you like your leadership to go? Is your vision and mission aligned with purposeful passion and empowering people for the good of all?

*a combination of perception and introspection

Be Free – Let Go of Your Anchors and Fly

August 4, 2015 by Zen

Even as a child I had a deep understanding of this notion, ‘be free’ or non-attachment, although I was not able to articulate it until much later in life, let alone put it in perspective. It’s reflected in all the spiritual texts and even science is now on the fringes of discovering its validity through the quantum field studies. We are a unified field even though we may not be willing to acknowledge that the unification is still in process.

For us to be present and accountable we simply must continue to acknowledge this fact – we’re just dumb. Dumb can be shifted to intelligent, but it has nothing to do with intelligence. It has to do with the inner nature we share; that of the pulse of the universe within each of us (our heart beat).

The mind controls the response by choice and/or abdication (which, imho, is still a choice). I think the saying is, ‘the mind creates the abyss and the heart crosses it.’ What it means to ‘be free’ is to build bridges between inner and outer realities, where the mind is focused on attention, intention and action with passion and purpose.

Now, like all intelligent beings who reject the inner for the outer (naive or otherwise), the objective of our star family encounters is to get us to go within. That’s where the next level of our evolution is taking place – in our ability to connect to the energy that permeates everything.

It isn’t about religion, it’s about science. To ‘be free’ of false belief systems. Modern science is acknowledging our observations and thinking has an effect on the reality we experience. We move out of superstitious belief systems and into experientially derived understanding through actualizing and learning the principles of universal law and order.

The latter is what we’re being asked to do, like the call from deep within the consciousness of mankind, being given the opportunity to do and be engaged within in ways unimaginable previously, except for the ancient writings we’ve been able to find.

Sometimes even those are misinterpreted. I mentioned the fasicules of the Knowledge Book in an earlier post, a book by a Turkish messenger. In spite of the rhetoric of controlled media and or information sharing, this book has been available for a couple of decades online. It’s a tough read, but the principles it explores are most sound, beginning with the nature of our consciousness being part of a greater whole.

We are replete with information that leads us to understanding our best form, fit and function in the world. The evidence of our awareness shows up in our eyes. They range from bright, sometimes fiery to dull, sometimes listless. Not to go all scriptural, but the phrase ‘for those who have the eyes to see and the ears to hear’ is relevant. Look in the mirror and decide where you want to be as you continue in life.

Today, transformational life coaching leads to the awareness of transforming everything. There is an article from Knowledge for Men that highlights reasons for hiring a life coach. Imagine taking the next step up.