Enabling Awareness, Relating and Transformative Change

[ Copyright Stuart B. Hill

(Reprint. Points to consider for discussion)

  1. Working with the processes of change (personal, social and ecological); the importance of ‘small meaningful initiatives we can guarantee to carry through to completion’; Lewin’s ‘Force Field Analysis’ (driving and restraining forces); and the public sharing and celebration of change.

    Bragging about examples from your past and present; dreaming and planning about initiatives for the future (in relation to your personal wellbeing and relationships); keeping track of your progress.
     

  2. Expanding our awareness – building on our past, preparing for our future – and its relationships with empowerment, vision, values, relationships, wellbeing and effective and meaningful action.

Moving beyond a 2,450-year-old era

The Art and Science of Blinking

Around 2,450 years ago the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea was perhaps the first to methodically question a simple fact of life - how do we physically move, such as when blinking an eye, running, or simply falling down?

Culturally we are about to fall off a philosophical cliff. Fortunately, a safe landing in a far more compassionate, sane and exciting world awaits those who come to the edge with the understanding of how to fly.

His questions and arguments, which have become widely known as Zeno's Paradoxes, pointed to the seemingly logical impossibility of the everyday experience of physical movement.

His considerations have perplexed and troubled philosophers and scientists even since. Various assumptions that underpin our modern technologies and sciences were taken for granted. We take for granted that there is always a physical cause for every physical effect - as exemplified by scientists researching to find physical cures for disease, cancer and viruses; and to find the physical genes or brain cells responsible for thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and the experience of love, creativity and joy. 

Now, with the advances in the field of quantum physics, we know that a 2,450 year era is nearing its end .. an era in which it has been assumed that our physical brains, bodies and the entire physical universe is continuously existent. An era in which each part (atom, virus, cell, organ, person, planet) was assumed to be continuously existent and functional, with every part contributing to the running of, or dysfunction of, the machinery of life.

We stand at the edge of a grand new understanding of our universe, and ourselves. As Visa International founder Dee Hock foretells, a new era

is struggling to be born -- a shifting of culture, science, society, and institutions enormously greater than the world has ever experienced. Ahead, the possibility of the regeneration of individuality, liberty, community, and ethics such as the world has never known, and a harmony with nature, with one another, and with the divine intelligence such as the world has never dreamed."

 

Sir Ken Robinson on Creativity and Innovation

An interesting and worthwhile interview with Sir Ken Robinson on the ABC's 7.30 Report with Kerry O'Brien.

Two parts to the interview.

Part 1 (transcript, mp4, wmv)

Sir Ken Robinson: 

"...people achieve their best when they firstly tune into their natural aptitudes - and lots of people I have interviewed aren't musicians, they're mathematicians, they're business leaders, they're teachers, they're broadcasters, you know, they've found this thing that they completely get. But the second thing is that they love it. And if you can find that - a talented and a passion - well that's to say you never work again. And it is true, I think, that our current education systems are simply not designed to help people do that. In fact an awful lot of people go through education and never discover anything they're good at at all."

Spring clean

I'm in the process of moving, and I've decided to give to friends various books that I've enjoyed, but no longer wish to keep.

When reading books that I've purchased I highlight sections for quick future reference, and any books in my library without highlights usually means I didn't find anything of particular interest in the book. So before handing on a few, I've decided those that did grab my interest, to transcribe the highlighted sections, and rather than put in some quote file (which I'll soon forget), I've decided to post here.

Sustainable Living

[ Copyright Dr Werner Sattmann-Frese 2009]

Notions of ‘Sustainable Living’ have recently been considered in relation to topics such as clean air and water, Permaculture and solar panels.

Whereas such environmental initiatives and government programs are important and will continue to play important roles in the ecological recovery of this planet, there is now also a growing awareness that to live sustainably we will also have to address the emotional and psychosocial aspects of sustainability.

The participation and well-being of individuals within all stratas of society are important to the viability of sustainable living programs and practices.

Technically living ON the moment

I've read in recent news reports that people were queuing overnight to buy the new Apple iPhone (S model).

It reminded me of times past when I would look forward to purchasing some new gadget, only to notice how the wonder of the device soon dissipated.

But it also reminded me of one particular time years ago while driving in peak hour traffic, when I had a sense that I was living "on" the moment, not IN it. I was heading back to the office after some appointment, and it felt like I was scurrying around on the surface of life, not deeply in it.

Testing questions for 'genuine' progress & improvement

[ © Stuart B. Hill 2003 ]

Personal

  1. Does it support: empowerment, awareness, creative visioning, valuesclarification, acquisition of essential literacies and competencies, responsibility, wellbeing and health maintenance, vitality and spontaneity (building & maintaining personal capital – personal sustainability)?
  2. Does it support: caring, loving, responsible, mutualistic, negentropic relationships with diverse others (valuing equity & social justice), other species, place and planet (home & ecosystem maintenance)?
  3. Does it support: positive total life-cycle personal development and change?

Socio-Political

  1. Does it support: accessible, collaborative, responsible, creative, celebrational, life- promoting communityand politicalstructures and functions (building & maintaining social capital – cultural [including economic] sustainability)?
  2. Does it support: the valuing of ‘functional’ high cultural diversity and mutualistic relationships?
  3. Does it support: positive cultural development and co-evolutionary change?

The business value of purpose and meaning

As many business entrepreneurs appreciate, the really important things in starting and running a business are primarily 'mental' -- it's our vision to make a difference, to do things better and to test ourselves that fuels and motivates.

But what about the people that we employ?

It should be no great surprise that for "businesses that pay most regard to the deeper needs of their employees are the ones that perform best."1

The challenge faced when creating a strong, vibrant culture in a business is the intangible 'mental' dimensions - what we think, feel and believe about our work, fellow employees, customers, the work environment etc.

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