May 3rd, 2017

May 3rd, 2017


Affirmation: I delight in learning. I take classes and read books on subjects new to me.

People in my life are present for our mutual learning.


Word of the Day: junket (n):

1. a dessert of sweetened flavored milk set with rennet

2. a) a festive social affair

b) trip, journey: such as (1) : a trip made by an official at public expense (2) : a promotional trip made at another's expense

Response to Your Question

Why ask about behavior

when you are soul-essence

and a way of seeing into presence?

Plus you are with us. How could you worry?

You may as well free a few words

from your vocabulary: why and how and impossible.

Open the mouth-cage and let those fly away.

We were all born by accident,

but still this wandering caravan

will make camp in perfection.

Forget the nonsense categories

of there and here.

Race and nation and religion.

Starting-point and destination.

You are soul and you are love,

not a sprite or an angel or a human being.

You are a Godman-womanGod-manGod-Godwoman.

No more questions now

as to what it is we are doing here.

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Leadership

This post was inspired by and dedicated to one of my yoga teachers.

Leadership is not about your hierarchical role - parent, boss, teacher, elected official. It is not about being better than or smarter than anybody else nor is it about comparing oneself in relation to anybody else in any way. It is about how you act! People who practice the following actions will naturally become leaders; that is to say, others will look to them in a healthy way. On the flipside, even people who possess some type of hierarchical authority may struggle to be effective if they ignore these steps.

Leaders inspire the trust, vision, and action of those around them. Here are a some important and applicable ways to inspire trust:

·      Say what you're going to do and do what you say you're going to do.

·      When others speak, listen for their insights more than their inconsistencies and flaws. Think of their ideas as coexistent or cumulative with yours, not competitive.

·      Give AND receive work freely.

·      Act with consistent and clear purpose.

·      Stop apologizing reflexively when it doesn't matter, and start apologizing graciously when it does.

·      Make clear agreements.

·      Know your stuff. Devote yourself fully to study and application in your field(s).

·      Freely acknowledge what you know you don't know, and leave plenty of space for what you don't know you don't know.

·      Remember that often, HOW you do anything matters just as much as WHAT things you do.

·      Never threaten anyone. Threats instantly destroy trust.

·      Ask others what they need to do their best work, and help them get it.

·      Stop making excuses.

·      Don't be afraid to let go of things that aren't working.

·      Notice and acknowledge the achievements of others.

·      Seek ease and grace when it comes to your own talents, successes and opinions. Don't hide them, but don't force them into a situation either.

·      Be prepared - even excited - to answer the question "why?" at any time.

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- Which of these action steps do you currently practice in your life? Which ones do you not practice regularly?

- Do you wish to be a leader? Why or why not?

- Name one leader that you look up to. Why do you look up to this person? How has this person influenced you?

- What does being a leader mean to you? What traits do you think all leaders possess?

- Is there anything on this list that you disagree with? What would you add?