QUESTION...
If indeed we only have one life to live and, if indeed we don't know how long we have, isn't it a rather risky proposition not to live with intent?
I am not suggesting that having a certain flexibility and randomness in life is a bad thing. Much and most of life is unexpected and we need to keep that "gypsy" in us alive.
Still, and almost paradoxically, I am realizing that real flexibility and spontaneity is enhanced with some structure. The human body's own flexibility is strengthened by its skeletal make-up. So maybe, just maybe, having some intent and living with and on purpose can make our lives even more magical.. the real kind of magic that brings core joy and has others saying that we are living some charmed life. There are no charmed lives. Actually , we all have charmed lives. It lives in our potential and our perspective. The Oprahs and Bonos and JK Rowlings of this world were not born into something the world would see as charmed. But, look at what they did with what they had.
We all have our stories. They create a tapestry from which we can build lives of intent and excitement and love and adventure and service. Still, the more I observe truly, deeply, happy people, the more I see purpose.
So, riding on my blog of two days ago, I offer this short list of my 10 for '10. These are mine; what are yours?
(1) Lhu Global will be born on February 20, 2010.
(2) Lhu Global Cartoonumn launched in February 2010.
(3) Own and ride a blue Honda Shadow 750 by June 2010.
(4) Baha'i Pilgrimage to Mount Carmel in Haifa Israel in the second half of 2010.
(5) Joyful mastery of Salsa dance by Summer 2010.
(6) Complete my own personal "MBA" in community development by December 2010.
(7) Initiate my application for CSP by March 31, 2010.
(8) Achieve effective, conversational Mandarin Chinese by December 31, 2010.
(9) Make LOVE my goal... at work, service, play, and life throughout 2010.
(10) Confirm my space and role at College of the North Atlantic.
If you really want accountability, tell people what MUST happen for you this year. Tell me. Let's make this a year where we bring who we are to the year and let ourselves shine rtaher than hope the year brings us what we want and need. It is our potluck, and we play a role in making the meal.
Enjoy the EVE, but truly enjoy the ACHIEVE.
Peace, friends.
Barry
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Ten for Ten
This is one short and early blog entry.
In preparation for the New Year, I have taken some real and personal quality time to create a new and true vision board for myself in 2010. Inspired by the song and video for Hey, Soul Sister (see the side bar), I had some fun creating a visual and verbal vision board on an old piece of white bed board.... and it looks so cool. :-)
I recommend the process as it opens up creative juices and inspiration we, far too often, keep overly harnessed. For me, the bottom line results came out in what I am calling TEN in TEN. Yes, 10 specific goals or milestones for me in 2010.
Here they are:
(1) Lhu Global will be born on February 20, 2010
February 20 marks my 50th birthday on this planet. It will mark the "birth" day of my calling, my work and my service project... Lhu Global, dedicated to building greater communities at school, work and whole communities. It will work with youth and the young at heart, interested in creating a palpable sense of unity... the kind of unity that we can taste. More to follow, but February 20, 2010 you can expect a bouncing baby Lhu Global. I am pumped!
(2) Lhu Global Cartoonumn launched in February 2010
As part of this new project, I am intent on creating Lhu Global Cartoonumn to launch in February of 2010. What is a cartoonumn? It is my name for a column and cartoon, designed to bring a smile and a thought. To do this, my commitment is to get back to one of my long time loves, cartooning... developing my art.
(3) Own and ride a blue Honda Shadow 750 by June 2010
I have wanted same for years. This is the year!!! ;-)
(4) Baha'i Pilgrimage to Mount Carmel in Haifa Israel in the second half of 2010
I have been waiting for this for years and this is the year. It will be emotional and deep, having a chance to visit the most Holy place in the Baha'i world and pray at the Shrine of the Bab and where Baha'u'llah is buried. Imagine knowing where Jesus is buried and being able to pray at His grave site. I long for this trip.
(5) Joyful mastery of Salsa dance by Summer 2010
I am looking to master this form of dance with my dance partner, Raven. and possibly even expand our dance repertoire... Salsa by Summer, but dance throughout the year. Yummy!
(6) Complete my own personal "MBA" in community development
I have decided to build and pursue my very own curriculum in community development, calling it my "MBA"... Master in Barry Advancement. I will be spending 2010 as a time to deepen within the area of community capacity building, intent on fully being a world class expert in helping build healthy, prosperous, sustainable communities.
(7) Initiate my application for CSP in the first quarter of 2010
Certified Speaking Professional. The process will take a couple of years, but it starts now. :-)
(8) Achieve effective, conversational Mandarin in 2010
Throughout 2010, I will be in preparation for travel and work, God willing, to China in 2011. I deeply desire to learn how to carry myself in conversation in China and I want to do that this year.
(9) Make LOVE my goal
This goal is about spirit... to work, on a daily basis, to bring unabashed love to my work and my life, being a shining source of joy. I will do this by asking in the morning "How can I love today? and in the evening "How did I love today?"
(10) Establish and confirm my space and role at College of the North Atlantic
After 9 years of teaching with the College, the intent, this year, is to confirm my role and space in a way that makes sense for the longer term. I intend to do this by August 2010.
So, that is it. That is that!!!
TEN in TEN. What are yours? It is worth the time and thought.
Happy New Year friends... may it be and bring all you need and deeply desire.
Barry
In preparation for the New Year, I have taken some real and personal quality time to create a new and true vision board for myself in 2010. Inspired by the song and video for Hey, Soul Sister (see the side bar), I had some fun creating a visual and verbal vision board on an old piece of white bed board.... and it looks so cool. :-)
I recommend the process as it opens up creative juices and inspiration we, far too often, keep overly harnessed. For me, the bottom line results came out in what I am calling TEN in TEN. Yes, 10 specific goals or milestones for me in 2010.
Here they are:
(1) Lhu Global will be born on February 20, 2010
February 20 marks my 50th birthday on this planet. It will mark the "birth" day of my calling, my work and my service project... Lhu Global, dedicated to building greater communities at school, work and whole communities. It will work with youth and the young at heart, interested in creating a palpable sense of unity... the kind of unity that we can taste. More to follow, but February 20, 2010 you can expect a bouncing baby Lhu Global. I am pumped!
(2) Lhu Global Cartoonumn launched in February 2010
As part of this new project, I am intent on creating Lhu Global Cartoonumn to launch in February of 2010. What is a cartoonumn? It is my name for a column and cartoon, designed to bring a smile and a thought. To do this, my commitment is to get back to one of my long time loves, cartooning... developing my art.
(3) Own and ride a blue Honda Shadow 750 by June 2010
I have wanted same for years. This is the year!!! ;-)
(4) Baha'i Pilgrimage to Mount Carmel in Haifa Israel in the second half of 2010
I have been waiting for this for years and this is the year. It will be emotional and deep, having a chance to visit the most Holy place in the Baha'i world and pray at the Shrine of the Bab and where Baha'u'llah is buried. Imagine knowing where Jesus is buried and being able to pray at His grave site. I long for this trip.
(5) Joyful mastery of Salsa dance by Summer 2010
I am looking to master this form of dance with my dance partner, Raven. and possibly even expand our dance repertoire... Salsa by Summer, but dance throughout the year. Yummy!
(6) Complete my own personal "MBA" in community development
I have decided to build and pursue my very own curriculum in community development, calling it my "MBA"... Master in Barry Advancement. I will be spending 2010 as a time to deepen within the area of community capacity building, intent on fully being a world class expert in helping build healthy, prosperous, sustainable communities.
(7) Initiate my application for CSP in the first quarter of 2010
Certified Speaking Professional. The process will take a couple of years, but it starts now. :-)
(8) Achieve effective, conversational Mandarin in 2010
Throughout 2010, I will be in preparation for travel and work, God willing, to China in 2011. I deeply desire to learn how to carry myself in conversation in China and I want to do that this year.
(9) Make LOVE my goal
This goal is about spirit... to work, on a daily basis, to bring unabashed love to my work and my life, being a shining source of joy. I will do this by asking in the morning "How can I love today? and in the evening "How did I love today?"
(10) Establish and confirm my space and role at College of the North Atlantic
After 9 years of teaching with the College, the intent, this year, is to confirm my role and space in a way that makes sense for the longer term. I intend to do this by August 2010.
So, that is it. That is that!!!
TEN in TEN. What are yours? It is worth the time and thought.
Happy New Year friends... may it be and bring all you need and deeply desire.
Barry
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Out Standing in your Field(s)
Boxing Day 2009... and I find myself reflecting.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of preparation for Christmas, I always find myself looking forward to, and appreciating, Christmas week. For me, it is a time to relax and recharge and rejuvenate. As a Baha'i (www.bahai.org), I experience the week as a time to be with myself and share some time with good friends and family, while still honouring the birth of Jesus the Christ, one of a number of Messengers of God recognized in the Baha'i Faith. Indeed, just yesterday, and for Christmas Day, I found myself having dinner shared by family of the Jewish, Christian and Baha'i Faiths. Quite wonderful! I hope that you experience such measures of friends, family, fun and festivity.
Still, I digress.
I do find myself reflecting.
The level of reflection which I have engaged and experienced yesterday and this morning has been deep and courageous. I found myself relying on the virtues of detachment (from expectations of any and all), prayerfulness (in quietly listening for the still, small voice inside), purposefulness and discernment (in reflecting on who I am and intend to be), and courage (to dare to be authentic). I am sure there were more, but, again, I digress.
Upon reflection, and keeping in mind the themes of authenticity and wholeness from my last blog entry, I saw my life as a synergy of four fields. I pictured myself within an open space made up of these four fields, four pastures if you will. Not unlike the final scene in Castaway where Tom Hanks' character finds four roads to choose from... but, in my case, I was not choosing... these four fields all make up who I am and intend to be.
In 2010, I will be celebrating my 50th birthday. As an NFL football freak, I understand that mid field is the 50 and half time leads into the best part of the game. I see my life that way. I have been blessed with trials and triumphs (as have we all). But those were in the first half. Now, is my time to play my game as best I can to finish with honour and personal victory.
My personal victory? To understnad that I lived a life of authenticity and accountability, to my core.
Deep huh? Not really. It means, for me, living life on purpose and passion. I am not a believer in reincarnation. If it exists, I guess it is a bonus. But, if not, I have this one life and I dare not believe the goal is to merely survive it. As a friend once told me, life is the only thing we cannot get out of alive. That being said, I believe there is more, but I believe we are to live this life best using what we have been given.
Again, I digress. ;-)
So, I am standing in the center of these four fields... MIND, BODY, SPIRIT, and SOUL.... and I am looking at those fields and seeing what grows in each to best represent me. What do I mean?
When I look upon the field of MIND, I look upon those things that center around ideas and work and service. I see myself as a "villager", the Unity Guy, committed to helping build genuine communities at work, school and beyond. I see Lhu Global, my calling and work. I see myself as a College Educator with College of the North Atlantic. I see my personal "MBA" and singing and dancing and speaking... teaching, training, facilitating, coaching, consulting, writing, cartooning, and doing improv... all in service and joy. I see myself as a Master Facilitator for the Virtues Project and Facilitator for Personality Dimensions. I see myself as a SMASH Leadership and MESH Management specialist. I see being a Ruhi Institute Tutor and Animator. Social networking and marketing is part of my field. I see myself as a communitrepreneur and communiteer (yup, made those up myself... social enterpriser and community builder). I am an amateur videographer on You Tube, a student and servant. I am an NFL freak and archer, applying those "skills and knowledge" to my work. I speak Mandarin. I travel in my work, in helping build communities. I am a P.Mgr and Certified Speaking Professional... and have my B. Comm. (Hon) - MIR.
When I look upon the field of BODY, I see a workout guy, walker, hiker, biker, archer and dancer. I see the best shape of my life, in the second half, yup. I see myself loving and mastering Salsa and other latin dance. I see myself a man of health and wealth, with my current home and a small summer home by the ocean... oh and my Honda Shadow 750. ;-)
Then, I look upon the field of SPIRIT. I see myself as friend, romantic, biker, coffee and dinner guy, Salsa dancer, volunteer, world citizen, movie and theater guy, NFL freak, karaoke guy, music man, lover (of life and more), reader, son, brother,, and uncle. I see myself with Panda (my bud, my dog) and others, including wild foxes upon the land. Yes indeed. My emotional health is based on a life of love, romance (true romance) and passion. I am a happy and joyful being. Whole.
Finally, I gaze upon the field I call SOUL, something deeper. I see myself as oceanwatcher, snowwalker, tribal spirit, stargazer. Most of all, I am Baha'i... and I have experience Pilgrimage. I am Barry, as created to be.
So, I stand amongst my four fields, knowing yours might be similar or very different. I draw upon these four fields, not choosing but experiencing all of the coolness of their respective beauties. I am all of this. There are no dichotomies, no pardaoxes. These are me, and I place them out there (out here in the blogosphere) to not only claim authenticity, but accountability. This is my living bucket list. These things I claim as I stand my middle ground.
So, what am I suggesting? Give yourself a gift this Christmas. Stand amongst your four fields and explore your "land"... stake your claim. Take ownership. As an additional suggestion, I say look at this video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DrX8AFIQao and create your own "wall" to reflect your fields.
They are your fields of dreams, my friends... find them, live them, love them.
Be OUT STANDING in your FIELD ... LOL.
God bless and Season's Greetings to all.
Love and joy and peace and courage...
Barry
Amidst the hustle and bustle of preparation for Christmas, I always find myself looking forward to, and appreciating, Christmas week. For me, it is a time to relax and recharge and rejuvenate. As a Baha'i (www.bahai.org), I experience the week as a time to be with myself and share some time with good friends and family, while still honouring the birth of Jesus the Christ, one of a number of Messengers of God recognized in the Baha'i Faith. Indeed, just yesterday, and for Christmas Day, I found myself having dinner shared by family of the Jewish, Christian and Baha'i Faiths. Quite wonderful! I hope that you experience such measures of friends, family, fun and festivity.
Still, I digress.
I do find myself reflecting.
The level of reflection which I have engaged and experienced yesterday and this morning has been deep and courageous. I found myself relying on the virtues of detachment (from expectations of any and all), prayerfulness (in quietly listening for the still, small voice inside), purposefulness and discernment (in reflecting on who I am and intend to be), and courage (to dare to be authentic). I am sure there were more, but, again, I digress.
Upon reflection, and keeping in mind the themes of authenticity and wholeness from my last blog entry, I saw my life as a synergy of four fields. I pictured myself within an open space made up of these four fields, four pastures if you will. Not unlike the final scene in Castaway where Tom Hanks' character finds four roads to choose from... but, in my case, I was not choosing... these four fields all make up who I am and intend to be.
In 2010, I will be celebrating my 50th birthday. As an NFL football freak, I understand that mid field is the 50 and half time leads into the best part of the game. I see my life that way. I have been blessed with trials and triumphs (as have we all). But those were in the first half. Now, is my time to play my game as best I can to finish with honour and personal victory.
My personal victory? To understnad that I lived a life of authenticity and accountability, to my core.
Deep huh? Not really. It means, for me, living life on purpose and passion. I am not a believer in reincarnation. If it exists, I guess it is a bonus. But, if not, I have this one life and I dare not believe the goal is to merely survive it. As a friend once told me, life is the only thing we cannot get out of alive. That being said, I believe there is more, but I believe we are to live this life best using what we have been given.
Again, I digress. ;-)
So, I am standing in the center of these four fields... MIND, BODY, SPIRIT, and SOUL.... and I am looking at those fields and seeing what grows in each to best represent me. What do I mean?
When I look upon the field of MIND, I look upon those things that center around ideas and work and service. I see myself as a "villager", the Unity Guy, committed to helping build genuine communities at work, school and beyond. I see Lhu Global, my calling and work. I see myself as a College Educator with College of the North Atlantic. I see my personal "MBA" and singing and dancing and speaking... teaching, training, facilitating, coaching, consulting, writing, cartooning, and doing improv... all in service and joy. I see myself as a Master Facilitator for the Virtues Project and Facilitator for Personality Dimensions. I see myself as a SMASH Leadership and MESH Management specialist. I see being a Ruhi Institute Tutor and Animator. Social networking and marketing is part of my field. I see myself as a communitrepreneur and communiteer (yup, made those up myself... social enterpriser and community builder). I am an amateur videographer on You Tube, a student and servant. I am an NFL freak and archer, applying those "skills and knowledge" to my work. I speak Mandarin. I travel in my work, in helping build communities. I am a P.Mgr and Certified Speaking Professional... and have my B. Comm. (Hon) - MIR.
When I look upon the field of BODY, I see a workout guy, walker, hiker, biker, archer and dancer. I see the best shape of my life, in the second half, yup. I see myself loving and mastering Salsa and other latin dance. I see myself a man of health and wealth, with my current home and a small summer home by the ocean... oh and my Honda Shadow 750. ;-)
Then, I look upon the field of SPIRIT. I see myself as friend, romantic, biker, coffee and dinner guy, Salsa dancer, volunteer, world citizen, movie and theater guy, NFL freak, karaoke guy, music man, lover (of life and more), reader, son, brother,, and uncle. I see myself with Panda (my bud, my dog) and others, including wild foxes upon the land. Yes indeed. My emotional health is based on a life of love, romance (true romance) and passion. I am a happy and joyful being. Whole.
Finally, I gaze upon the field I call SOUL, something deeper. I see myself as oceanwatcher, snowwalker, tribal spirit, stargazer. Most of all, I am Baha'i... and I have experience Pilgrimage. I am Barry, as created to be.
So, I stand amongst my four fields, knowing yours might be similar or very different. I draw upon these four fields, not choosing but experiencing all of the coolness of their respective beauties. I am all of this. There are no dichotomies, no pardaoxes. These are me, and I place them out there (out here in the blogosphere) to not only claim authenticity, but accountability. This is my living bucket list. These things I claim as I stand my middle ground.
So, what am I suggesting? Give yourself a gift this Christmas. Stand amongst your four fields and explore your "land"... stake your claim. Take ownership. As an additional suggestion, I say look at this video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DrX8AFIQao and create your own "wall" to reflect your fields.
They are your fields of dreams, my friends... find them, live them, love them.
Be OUT STANDING in your FIELD ... LOL.
God bless and Season's Greetings to all.
Love and joy and peace and courage...
Barry
Saturday, December 19, 2009
New Beginnings
Well, we are 12 days from New Year's Eve... a time, for some or many, to reflect and look ahead. I am continuously reminded of the wonderful diversity of our world... that the New Year is different around the world... in China, Israel and the world over... different calendars but somehow we presently share in December 31 as some common point... at least, to a degree... but I digress. :-)
I am Baha'i. Part of that, for me, is this core need to recognize the importance of, and need to strive for, unity.... not the unity of appearance.. but real, authentic unity... the kind that is based on the understanding that our differences actually make us stronger.
In looking back on my old, archived blogs... see Blog City in the linked resources... I am reminded of what Wholiness was and is to be about... unity. This blog is intended to share my thoughts on unity in ourselves and amongst each other. It is about wholeness, wholiness. It is about challenging the "myth" that our lives are some composite of different "areas", and that, somehow, we need be different in each. I am not denying that there is a time and place for certain behaviours, but our character needs to remain whole and authentic.
I have paraphrased the Buddha before in saying that our lives need to be a reflection of who we are and that it should be hard for others to differentiate when we are playing or working, learning or having fun. I believe this, at my core. We live lives of "silos" at work, at home, and in our communities... guarding our persona at each place, often not wanting to show certain "sides". I contend that we have no "sides". We have who we are, and that, with some need for discretion, we need to be who we are, where we are.
A friend of mine, Harry Tucker, recently wrote in his blog (see my links)that we seem to be living in a time where appearances are more important than results. I certainly agree that that is what we are shown. I do believe that there are stories out there of authentic success where people are making the difference that they intend to make... but Harry's point is well taken... too often, we are more concerned that we look like we have achieved something... more so than actually achieving it.
So, my intent, upon reflection, is to make this blog what it was intended to be... a place to find thoughts on authenticity and truth that bring us together. A place where we can talk about the "elephants" in the room... so that we can better come together within ourselves and with each other.
Here is my thought as we enter into this special season.
This past week, I found myself in a conversation about bullying... and drew upon the thought that, if we want bullying to be addressed, maybe we might want to stop "celebrating" it... how do we celebrate it, you say?
I wish not to judge or be judged. I wish not to censure. I just think that if we are to address bullying in our schools, we might want to question it in our workplaces, and in our passions for shows like Survivor abd Big Brother. What peoplw watch is their business. Still, I find it interesting that we are concerned about bullying but find shows as above somehow entertaining.
Not judging, just a thought. Authenticity requires questioning.
And so, we continue.
My challenge for myself is to live true, be whole. The real war is within... let the battle begin... peace, true peace, lasting peace, my friends.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and more....
Barry G.
PS
For some cool material, check out The Shadow Effect DVD by Debbie Ford and The Joy Diet by Martha Beck.
I am Baha'i. Part of that, for me, is this core need to recognize the importance of, and need to strive for, unity.... not the unity of appearance.. but real, authentic unity... the kind that is based on the understanding that our differences actually make us stronger.
In looking back on my old, archived blogs... see Blog City in the linked resources... I am reminded of what Wholiness was and is to be about... unity. This blog is intended to share my thoughts on unity in ourselves and amongst each other. It is about wholeness, wholiness. It is about challenging the "myth" that our lives are some composite of different "areas", and that, somehow, we need be different in each. I am not denying that there is a time and place for certain behaviours, but our character needs to remain whole and authentic.
I have paraphrased the Buddha before in saying that our lives need to be a reflection of who we are and that it should be hard for others to differentiate when we are playing or working, learning or having fun. I believe this, at my core. We live lives of "silos" at work, at home, and in our communities... guarding our persona at each place, often not wanting to show certain "sides". I contend that we have no "sides". We have who we are, and that, with some need for discretion, we need to be who we are, where we are.
A friend of mine, Harry Tucker, recently wrote in his blog (see my links)that we seem to be living in a time where appearances are more important than results. I certainly agree that that is what we are shown. I do believe that there are stories out there of authentic success where people are making the difference that they intend to make... but Harry's point is well taken... too often, we are more concerned that we look like we have achieved something... more so than actually achieving it.
So, my intent, upon reflection, is to make this blog what it was intended to be... a place to find thoughts on authenticity and truth that bring us together. A place where we can talk about the "elephants" in the room... so that we can better come together within ourselves and with each other.
Here is my thought as we enter into this special season.
This past week, I found myself in a conversation about bullying... and drew upon the thought that, if we want bullying to be addressed, maybe we might want to stop "celebrating" it... how do we celebrate it, you say?
I wish not to judge or be judged. I wish not to censure. I just think that if we are to address bullying in our schools, we might want to question it in our workplaces, and in our passions for shows like Survivor abd Big Brother. What peoplw watch is their business. Still, I find it interesting that we are concerned about bullying but find shows as above somehow entertaining.
Not judging, just a thought. Authenticity requires questioning.
And so, we continue.
My challenge for myself is to live true, be whole. The real war is within... let the battle begin... peace, true peace, lasting peace, my friends.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and more....
Barry G.
PS
For some cool material, check out The Shadow Effect DVD by Debbie Ford and The Joy Diet by Martha Beck.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Thoughts of BEing
A recurring topic for me has been, is and continues to be BEing.
I have written on the importance of BEing, and shared my own continuing journey towards more authentic BEing. Indeed, I believe that the BEing and the DOing are reciprocal facets of living lives of authentic success. As John Mellencamp would say... living our lives closer to the bone.
That being said, I recently attended the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers Annual Convention 2009 in Calgary. It was phenomenal in the truest sense. Speaker after speaker demonstrated an unique and powerful expertise and were NOT cut from the same cloth. Each was an expert, in their content and delivery, living their content. Each added their own perspective. Each added a distinct value.
The essential message for me was and is that expertise breeds success. Authentic experience breeds expertise. Consistent, purposeful, joy-inspired action breeds authentic experience. We start with what we love and lose ourselves within... we do that well and develop a body of work. I call it WEALTH... when excellence and love take hold. When we do what we love and love what we do. When play and work are blurred. Authenticity! Based on joy and love and excellence.
I came away from Convention with a new level of experience and understanding, looking at all that I love and finding the "theme"... and it is unity... in dance, song, creativity, and a whole lot more. I am about the chemistry that makes us all stronger, together. I see that in my love of dance and singing, and in my work as an educator and community activant.
I am the Unity Guy, and my website and work and service and more are all about that and will increasingly reflect that... the kind of unity that forges a path together, understanding that we all count.
My challenge to us all is to look deeply at what we love most to do, and ask what theme is present... to discover our own personal sense of BEing... the never ending journey.
In doing so, I am creating 2 new blogs... Lhu News... a site to catch up on what I am doing with Lhu Global and Lhu Cartoonumn, a place of articles and cartoons around professional topics, reserving Wholiness for the personal journey. All part of my approach to unity of mind, body, spirit and soul.
Just my thoughts? Hmmmm....
Barry G.
I have written on the importance of BEing, and shared my own continuing journey towards more authentic BEing. Indeed, I believe that the BEing and the DOing are reciprocal facets of living lives of authentic success. As John Mellencamp would say... living our lives closer to the bone.
That being said, I recently attended the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers Annual Convention 2009 in Calgary. It was phenomenal in the truest sense. Speaker after speaker demonstrated an unique and powerful expertise and were NOT cut from the same cloth. Each was an expert, in their content and delivery, living their content. Each added their own perspective. Each added a distinct value.
The essential message for me was and is that expertise breeds success. Authentic experience breeds expertise. Consistent, purposeful, joy-inspired action breeds authentic experience. We start with what we love and lose ourselves within... we do that well and develop a body of work. I call it WEALTH... when excellence and love take hold. When we do what we love and love what we do. When play and work are blurred. Authenticity! Based on joy and love and excellence.
I came away from Convention with a new level of experience and understanding, looking at all that I love and finding the "theme"... and it is unity... in dance, song, creativity, and a whole lot more. I am about the chemistry that makes us all stronger, together. I see that in my love of dance and singing, and in my work as an educator and community activant.
I am the Unity Guy, and my website and work and service and more are all about that and will increasingly reflect that... the kind of unity that forges a path together, understanding that we all count.
My challenge to us all is to look deeply at what we love most to do, and ask what theme is present... to discover our own personal sense of BEing... the never ending journey.
In doing so, I am creating 2 new blogs... Lhu News... a site to catch up on what I am doing with Lhu Global and Lhu Cartoonumn, a place of articles and cartoons around professional topics, reserving Wholiness for the personal journey. All part of my approach to unity of mind, body, spirit and soul.
Just my thoughts? Hmmmm....
Barry G.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Prayerful Problem Solving
Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, 1897-1957, The Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, reportedly spoke to some helpful steps in prayerful problem solving. His guidance speaks to us about the dynamics of prayer and how we can use it to find solutions to our most challenging problems.
Here are the five steps he suggests:
First Step:
Pray and meditate about it. Use the prayers of the Manifestations (Prophets of God) as they have the greatest power. Then remain in the silence of contemplation for a few minutes.
Second Step:
Arrive at a decision and hold this. This decision is usually born during the contemplation. It may seem almost impossible of accomplishment but if it seems to be an answer to a prayer or a way of solving the problem, then immediately take the next step.
Third Step:
Have determination to carry the decision through. Many fail here. The decision, budding into determination, is blighted and instead becomes a wish or a vague longing. When determination is born, immediately take the next step.
Fourth Step:
Have faith and confidence that the power will flow through you, the right way will appear, the door will open, the right thought, the right message, the right principle or the right book will be given you. Have confidence, and the right thing will come to your need. Then, as you rise from prayer, take at once the fifth step.
Fifth Step:
Then, lastly, ACT. Act as though it had all been answered. Then act with tireless, ceaseless energy. And as you act, you, yourself, will become a magnet, which will attract more power to your being, until you become an unobstructed channel for the Divine power to flow through you.
Many pray but do not remain for the last half of the first step. Some who meditate arrive at a decision, but fail to hold it. Few have the determination to carry the decision through, still fewer have the confidence that the right thing will come to their need. But how many remember to act as though it had all been answered? How true are those words - 'Greater than the prayer is the spirit in which it is uttered' and greater than the way it is uttered is the spirit in which it is carried out."
Whatever your belief, why not try these 5 steps?
Note: These steps have been extracted from Prayer: A Bahá'í Approach by William & Madeline Hellaby. You can order this title from Barnes and Noble by clicking or order from Amazon by clicking below.
Enjoy your day.
Barry
Here are the five steps he suggests:
First Step:
Pray and meditate about it. Use the prayers of the Manifestations (Prophets of God) as they have the greatest power. Then remain in the silence of contemplation for a few minutes.
Second Step:
Arrive at a decision and hold this. This decision is usually born during the contemplation. It may seem almost impossible of accomplishment but if it seems to be an answer to a prayer or a way of solving the problem, then immediately take the next step.
Third Step:
Have determination to carry the decision through. Many fail here. The decision, budding into determination, is blighted and instead becomes a wish or a vague longing. When determination is born, immediately take the next step.
Fourth Step:
Have faith and confidence that the power will flow through you, the right way will appear, the door will open, the right thought, the right message, the right principle or the right book will be given you. Have confidence, and the right thing will come to your need. Then, as you rise from prayer, take at once the fifth step.
Fifth Step:
Then, lastly, ACT. Act as though it had all been answered. Then act with tireless, ceaseless energy. And as you act, you, yourself, will become a magnet, which will attract more power to your being, until you become an unobstructed channel for the Divine power to flow through you.
Many pray but do not remain for the last half of the first step. Some who meditate arrive at a decision, but fail to hold it. Few have the determination to carry the decision through, still fewer have the confidence that the right thing will come to their need. But how many remember to act as though it had all been answered? How true are those words - 'Greater than the prayer is the spirit in which it is uttered' and greater than the way it is uttered is the spirit in which it is carried out."
Whatever your belief, why not try these 5 steps?
Note: These steps have been extracted from Prayer: A Bahá'í Approach by William & Madeline Hellaby. You can order this title from Barnes and Noble by clicking or order from Amazon by clicking below.
Enjoy your day.
Barry
Saturday, November 21, 2009
A Second Gift of Words
This week, I am left with the words of Marianne Williamson. I do not have a lot to say about them. They seem self-evident. I know they are relevant to my life and the crossroads at which I find myself.
Understanding our unique gifts and the degree to which we are special to the world, is a key and crucial step in living our best life. Our Roominations masterminds meeting today and the Love Yourself Lean keynote by Courtney Rowsell both spoke to this today. We are gifts, and as we soon as we unwrap and unleash, all "heaven" breaks out. Enjoy. ;-)
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear in that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the World. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel unsure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. As we let our own Light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
Marianne Williamson
Barry
Understanding our unique gifts and the degree to which we are special to the world, is a key and crucial step in living our best life. Our Roominations masterminds meeting today and the Love Yourself Lean keynote by Courtney Rowsell both spoke to this today. We are gifts, and as we soon as we unwrap and unleash, all "heaven" breaks out. Enjoy. ;-)
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear in that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the World. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel unsure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. As we let our own Light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
Marianne Williamson
Barry
Saturday, November 14, 2009
A Gift of Words
This week, I offer you one of my all-time favourite pieces of writing. Outside of true sacred scripture from the major faith traditions of the Baha'i Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduisim, Islam, Judaism, Zoroasterianism, and more... I believe this speaks to a path we can walk as much as any words previously written.
These past few days have seen a shift in perspective for me, personally and professionally. Reading The Joy Diet by Martha Beck was HUGE. Applying it, even more so. Now, I am on to the 4-Day Win by Martha... equally impacting. But also, it's the implications of the application. On top of all of this, I now see myself, once again, a dancer... Salsa is amazing. Salsa for life! ;-)
Before I offer this gift of words, my "advice" is this. Know yourself, your best self. Believe in it, now. Be it, now. Walk your path, true to your right decisions, what your core or soul says to you is right. Walk authentic. Walk with a humble swagger that you were created to be remarkable, because you were. Enter the room, any room or open space, knowing that you are unique and that your gifts and talents are many and diverse. Walk the walk. I believe in you, as I believe in me.
My path has experienced a paradigm shift. My once "healthy" sense of self esteem is now a genuine love for the core of who I am, what I am, and what I do. Find yours through courageous honesty. Be that person. My journey is by means complete, but I am on my way.
And now, the gift. Enjoy.
Desiderata
written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Engage and Have a great day, week, month, year and life!
Until next time, peace.
Barry
These past few days have seen a shift in perspective for me, personally and professionally. Reading The Joy Diet by Martha Beck was HUGE. Applying it, even more so. Now, I am on to the 4-Day Win by Martha... equally impacting. But also, it's the implications of the application. On top of all of this, I now see myself, once again, a dancer... Salsa is amazing. Salsa for life! ;-)
Before I offer this gift of words, my "advice" is this. Know yourself, your best self. Believe in it, now. Be it, now. Walk your path, true to your right decisions, what your core or soul says to you is right. Walk authentic. Walk with a humble swagger that you were created to be remarkable, because you were. Enter the room, any room or open space, knowing that you are unique and that your gifts and talents are many and diverse. Walk the walk. I believe in you, as I believe in me.
My path has experienced a paradigm shift. My once "healthy" sense of self esteem is now a genuine love for the core of who I am, what I am, and what I do. Find yours through courageous honesty. Be that person. My journey is by means complete, but I am on my way.
And now, the gift. Enjoy.
Desiderata
written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Engage and Have a great day, week, month, year and life!
Until next time, peace.
Barry
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Who Are You?
Given my entry on Thursday, today's blog update is short and, hopefully, sweeeet. ;-)
Read the blog update on our dance excursion at the College. Watch the video too. Look for the "chef" and "Leggo woman" and many others having a ball!!!
With that in mind, here's a positive challenge. In the spirit of moving from "the motions" to "the mission" (which my own journey is continuously about), I propose that you lay claim to who you are. We live in a culture where conversations start with "What do you do?". I think the better question is "Who are you?"
So, make your claim... here's mine.
I am a dancing, singing, boot camping, football freak and archer; an educator, trainer, facilitator, writer, cartoonist, "videographer" loving working with youth, community, schools and business to create a better world.... a friend and human being being human and getting ever healthier... I am Baha'i, spiritual and tribal... I try.
Who are you? ;-)
Until next week.
Barry
Read the blog update on our dance excursion at the College. Watch the video too. Look for the "chef" and "Leggo woman" and many others having a ball!!!
With that in mind, here's a positive challenge. In the spirit of moving from "the motions" to "the mission" (which my own journey is continuously about), I propose that you lay claim to who you are. We live in a culture where conversations start with "What do you do?". I think the better question is "Who are you?"
So, make your claim... here's mine.
I am a dancing, singing, boot camping, football freak and archer; an educator, trainer, facilitator, writer, cartoonist, "videographer" loving working with youth, community, schools and business to create a better world.... a friend and human being being human and getting ever healthier... I am Baha'i, spiritual and tribal... I try.
Who are you? ;-)
Until next week.
Barry
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Dance Like Nobody's Watchin'
I am currently reading a book called The Joy Diet by Martha Beck. In it, Martha writes of 10 daily activities that bring a deeper, more sustainable happiness.
The first she addresses is doing "nothing" for 15 minutes a day... just being.
I like that. I need to do more of that. But she speaks to the fact that that "nothing" time can be doing something in which we just lose ourselves, forgetting all and being simply in the moment. No agendas. No plans. No intent.
On Thursday, October 29, 2009 at the College of the North Atlantic, we celebrated Halloween with a flash mod dance called The Hitcher. We taught it and lead it all in real time... and everyone had a blast!!! We threw ourselves into "the moment", unguarded and with joy and laughter.
Watch the video.
Look for the "chef" in front, the Leggo Man (or Woman)... and others all having fun... their way.
I was in "costume" as a Colts Fan... go figure. ;-)
It was invigorating and unplanned. A beautiful moment of "nothing" that was everything. Martha Beck speaks to the notion that after such times of "nothing" we seek our truth by asking how we are feeling after these times of pure clarity.
Personally, I felt alive, engaged and real. I hope everyone else did too. I suspect so.
What do I recommend?
Read The Joy Diet. But, more immediately, have your moments of "nothing".. no plans or thoughts or purposes. Just being. Let your hair down and be YOU. Purely. It might have been Halloween but our "masks" were off. We were human beings sharing in a moment. Pure life. Pure unity.
I live for it, for this.
Next on the list is Christmas Dinner at the College and we want to continue the "dance" and even celebrate an early Chinese New Year (2.5 months early) with our Chinese compatriots while they are here. Live in the moment!!!
Peace all.
Stay with me on this journey. Subscribe and follow the path to wellnees and fun.
Barry
The first she addresses is doing "nothing" for 15 minutes a day... just being.
I like that. I need to do more of that. But she speaks to the fact that that "nothing" time can be doing something in which we just lose ourselves, forgetting all and being simply in the moment. No agendas. No plans. No intent.
On Thursday, October 29, 2009 at the College of the North Atlantic, we celebrated Halloween with a flash mod dance called The Hitcher. We taught it and lead it all in real time... and everyone had a blast!!! We threw ourselves into "the moment", unguarded and with joy and laughter.
Watch the video.
Look for the "chef" in front, the Leggo Man (or Woman)... and others all having fun... their way.
I was in "costume" as a Colts Fan... go figure. ;-)
It was invigorating and unplanned. A beautiful moment of "nothing" that was everything. Martha Beck speaks to the notion that after such times of "nothing" we seek our truth by asking how we are feeling after these times of pure clarity.
Personally, I felt alive, engaged and real. I hope everyone else did too. I suspect so.
What do I recommend?
Read The Joy Diet. But, more immediately, have your moments of "nothing".. no plans or thoughts or purposes. Just being. Let your hair down and be YOU. Purely. It might have been Halloween but our "masks" were off. We were human beings sharing in a moment. Pure life. Pure unity.
I live for it, for this.
Next on the list is Christmas Dinner at the College and we want to continue the "dance" and even celebrate an early Chinese New Year (2.5 months early) with our Chinese compatriots while they are here. Live in the moment!!!
Peace all.
Stay with me on this journey. Subscribe and follow the path to wellnees and fun.
Barry
Saturday, October 31, 2009
SOUL Speaking
S.O.U.L.
Spiritual odyssey understanding life.
In various conversations this past week, I found myself centering on deeper questions. I would either find myself talking of the deeper or walking away and pondering it. Interesting.
I notice that our society and culture do not really encourage the time to go deeper. So many of us wear so many masks, being something for everyone else and ourselves... and often ignoring the still, small voice within.
I am feeling the voice getting louder. Not in any audible way, but in my senses, my nerves, my veins. I consider myself someone who thinks deeper, but I have been "caught up" with the business, the busy-ness. Now, I am feeling something afoot. I am not sure what, but I know there is a knock on the door and it is getting louder.
I am reading the work of Martha Beck these days and she says that the power of the mind, while great, is nothing as compared to the limitless power of the soul. It is impervious to the conditions of this world. It knows what we were designed to do and be. We may veil that and even run from it, but the soul finds ways to send signals. We are mind, body and spirit. We talk of mental health and body health.... our spiritual health requires us to go deeper and hear our soul.
Hear it.
Mine is sending to me. I hear it in vibrations and discomfort and things "not being right"... in my reactions to same old situations, things I have enjoyed. Something is different, and so I am taking time to pray and meditate and quiet my mind, to hear that voice. Yes, the mind is powerful and our bodies are temples, but the soul is the "sage". Intelligence and strength pale in comparison to love and wisdom, the powers of the soul.
Hear the soul. It speaks.
Hear yours. I have said my piece. More to follow.
Barry
Spiritual odyssey understanding life.
In various conversations this past week, I found myself centering on deeper questions. I would either find myself talking of the deeper or walking away and pondering it. Interesting.
I notice that our society and culture do not really encourage the time to go deeper. So many of us wear so many masks, being something for everyone else and ourselves... and often ignoring the still, small voice within.
I am feeling the voice getting louder. Not in any audible way, but in my senses, my nerves, my veins. I consider myself someone who thinks deeper, but I have been "caught up" with the business, the busy-ness. Now, I am feeling something afoot. I am not sure what, but I know there is a knock on the door and it is getting louder.
I am reading the work of Martha Beck these days and she says that the power of the mind, while great, is nothing as compared to the limitless power of the soul. It is impervious to the conditions of this world. It knows what we were designed to do and be. We may veil that and even run from it, but the soul finds ways to send signals. We are mind, body and spirit. We talk of mental health and body health.... our spiritual health requires us to go deeper and hear our soul.
Hear it.
Mine is sending to me. I hear it in vibrations and discomfort and things "not being right"... in my reactions to same old situations, things I have enjoyed. Something is different, and so I am taking time to pray and meditate and quiet my mind, to hear that voice. Yes, the mind is powerful and our bodies are temples, but the soul is the "sage". Intelligence and strength pale in comparison to love and wisdom, the powers of the soul.
Hear the soul. It speaks.
Hear yours. I have said my piece. More to follow.
Barry
Sunday, October 25, 2009
About the L.O.V.E.
Short and sweet this week.
Speaking at the Young Adult Cancer Survivor Conference on Thursday and the NL Association of Career Professionals Provincial Conference this weekend, followed by the launch of our second capaCITIES Program for neighbourhood leadership... well, I am hit smack-in-the-face and heart with this notion that my work is about LOVE... looking inside ourselves for strengths, finding opportunities to use those strengths for good, having a vision in our minds of how much better our corner of the world will be when we do that, and engaging the process by just doing it. I believe in it, and LOVE it.
This week, I facilitate a public forum on alternative education, launch a junior youth mentorship program, give a public talk on LOVE ad Leadership, continue capaCITIES and more. I also expect to receive 4 books by Martha Beck. Looking forward to the material. My emphasis is LOVE. My message is LOVE. The kind of love that moves things through action.
That is it for this week.
LOVE your work. LOVE your life.
More to come.
Barry
Speaking at the Young Adult Cancer Survivor Conference on Thursday and the NL Association of Career Professionals Provincial Conference this weekend, followed by the launch of our second capaCITIES Program for neighbourhood leadership... well, I am hit smack-in-the-face and heart with this notion that my work is about LOVE... looking inside ourselves for strengths, finding opportunities to use those strengths for good, having a vision in our minds of how much better our corner of the world will be when we do that, and engaging the process by just doing it. I believe in it, and LOVE it.
This week, I facilitate a public forum on alternative education, launch a junior youth mentorship program, give a public talk on LOVE ad Leadership, continue capaCITIES and more. I also expect to receive 4 books by Martha Beck. Looking forward to the material. My emphasis is LOVE. My message is LOVE. The kind of love that moves things through action.
That is it for this week.
LOVE your work. LOVE your life.
More to come.
Barry
Saturday, October 17, 2009
LOVE is the answer.... Let It Reign ;-)
A great day.
Today began with time at the Provincial Student Leadership Conference at St. Kevin's High School in the Goulds. I opened the day (their last full day of events) by facilitating the "pump" session.... 15 minutes to ready the entire group of 400 high school students for a great day ahead. We had a blast! We did a simple but fun networking exercise that really worked. The energy was palpable. And then, it happened.
Inspired, I felt the need to finish by teaching these 400 youth a dance that they could use at their closing dance tonight or in flash mob situations, motivating others to dance (see www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvLfAL7Lgpw for an example on the Oprah show). The kids ate it up. So did I. What I witnessed was the synergy of pure joy and enthusiasm and encouragement. It brought a deep, rich smile to my heart. It was powerful, practical LOVE.
Then, it happened, again.
I had the privilege to hear Micheal Gaultois (www.michaelgaultois.ca)speak of his journey from burn victim to survivor and more... a powerful message of hope, effort and working together. It resonated with me and my passion for unity and leadership. It spoke of LOVE.
This was followed by 2 breakout sessions with over 50 youth and teachers, on Global L'Attitudes (my keynote on the attitudes and actions of success)... the youth were so engaged. It was immensely encouraging. The future is in great hands, if we can let it go to them soon enough ;-). But again, these sessions were about LOVE.
Love, yes LOVE... I shall explain... in moments.
The day then turned to my Chinese lessons and a new recording of SLOWER and HEALTHY LIVING You Tube Show with Allison Martin (my massage therapist) as guest.
Why do I cite all of this?
Last night, I left karaoke unusually early, stating that I was not "into it". Strange. Curious. Intriguing. I somehow felt disengaged.
Today, was my answer.
What was the answer?
I have been feeling a change underway for sometime now. I have experienced this only several key times in my life... moments where two forces were pulling, with the inevitable "winner" being the force of purposeful change. I have been feeling the forces at work for a while now, again. It has been a challenging and gratifying year. It has been a time of trial and triumph. It has been a time of certitude and uncertainty.
With the events of this day and last night, came a peace... a peace born of acceptance. As a Baha'i, I know that Baha'u'llah says "Be generous in prosperity and thankful in adversity." On some level, I understood this to be true and important. On a deeper level, I did not fully "get it".
I get it.
Now, I get it.
Finally, I get it.
Life is life.
All things pass.
Our truest happiness comes from within, and is choice. Micheal Gaultois spoke of this today. All sacred texts speak to this. Detachment from results. Attachment to love, real love.
Today, I felt an awakening. My chosen brand The Unity Guy became more clear. I believe in love, honour and unity. I believe in LOVE... looking within for our strengths, finding opportunities to use them, creating a vision in our heads and hearts of the way our part of the world will positively change when we use our strengths, and engaging it by doing it. I am the L.O.V.E. Warrior, encouraging myself and any and all to L.O.V.E. daily.
Bottom line, today has been a day of authentic experience. My advice?
LOVE.
Love your work. Love the people you encounter. LOVE your life.
Look inside yourself for your truest, deepest strengths. I call them virtues.
Seek out real opportunities to use these strengths for good.
Have a motivating vision in your mind of how doing this will help you and others.
Engage, by taking the action. Just do it.
Have a day of L.O.V.E.!
I am grateful.
Barry G.
PS
Love is the answer...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=P94hxfJEw-o
Let it rain, LOVE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHj8SrH8LSU
Today began with time at the Provincial Student Leadership Conference at St. Kevin's High School in the Goulds. I opened the day (their last full day of events) by facilitating the "pump" session.... 15 minutes to ready the entire group of 400 high school students for a great day ahead. We had a blast! We did a simple but fun networking exercise that really worked. The energy was palpable. And then, it happened.
Inspired, I felt the need to finish by teaching these 400 youth a dance that they could use at their closing dance tonight or in flash mob situations, motivating others to dance (see www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvLfAL7Lgpw for an example on the Oprah show). The kids ate it up. So did I. What I witnessed was the synergy of pure joy and enthusiasm and encouragement. It brought a deep, rich smile to my heart. It was powerful, practical LOVE.
Then, it happened, again.
I had the privilege to hear Micheal Gaultois (www.michaelgaultois.ca)speak of his journey from burn victim to survivor and more... a powerful message of hope, effort and working together. It resonated with me and my passion for unity and leadership. It spoke of LOVE.
This was followed by 2 breakout sessions with over 50 youth and teachers, on Global L'Attitudes (my keynote on the attitudes and actions of success)... the youth were so engaged. It was immensely encouraging. The future is in great hands, if we can let it go to them soon enough ;-). But again, these sessions were about LOVE.
Love, yes LOVE... I shall explain... in moments.
The day then turned to my Chinese lessons and a new recording of SLOWER and HEALTHY LIVING You Tube Show with Allison Martin (my massage therapist) as guest.
Why do I cite all of this?
Last night, I left karaoke unusually early, stating that I was not "into it". Strange. Curious. Intriguing. I somehow felt disengaged.
Today, was my answer.
What was the answer?
I have been feeling a change underway for sometime now. I have experienced this only several key times in my life... moments where two forces were pulling, with the inevitable "winner" being the force of purposeful change. I have been feeling the forces at work for a while now, again. It has been a challenging and gratifying year. It has been a time of trial and triumph. It has been a time of certitude and uncertainty.
With the events of this day and last night, came a peace... a peace born of acceptance. As a Baha'i, I know that Baha'u'llah says "Be generous in prosperity and thankful in adversity." On some level, I understood this to be true and important. On a deeper level, I did not fully "get it".
I get it.
Now, I get it.
Finally, I get it.
Life is life.
All things pass.
Our truest happiness comes from within, and is choice. Micheal Gaultois spoke of this today. All sacred texts speak to this. Detachment from results. Attachment to love, real love.
Today, I felt an awakening. My chosen brand The Unity Guy became more clear. I believe in love, honour and unity. I believe in LOVE... looking within for our strengths, finding opportunities to use them, creating a vision in our heads and hearts of the way our part of the world will positively change when we use our strengths, and engaging it by doing it. I am the L.O.V.E. Warrior, encouraging myself and any and all to L.O.V.E. daily.
Bottom line, today has been a day of authentic experience. My advice?
LOVE.
Love your work. Love the people you encounter. LOVE your life.
Look inside yourself for your truest, deepest strengths. I call them virtues.
Seek out real opportunities to use these strengths for good.
Have a motivating vision in your mind of how doing this will help you and others.
Engage, by taking the action. Just do it.
Have a day of L.O.V.E.!
I am grateful.
Barry G.
PS
Love is the answer...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=P94hxfJEw-o
Let it rain, LOVE...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHj8SrH8LSU
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Rich Jewels
Ritual.
Rituals. Rich jewels. Hmmmmm...
It is a word laden with much meaning in many circles, and not a lot of it good. Still, on this (Canadian) Thanksgiving Weekend, I am left with the thought that it is not ritual that is good or bad but the nature and meaning (if any) of the ritual.
Yes, on this day, I am thinking that there are four primary areas to our lives... mind, body, spirit, and soul. For me, mind consists of matters of vocation and education. Body refers to those things of the physical, fiscal and physiological..... material health, financial health, physical health. Spirit is that which deals with emotional health, inspiration and contribution. Soul, the deeper spirit, the core.
Why do I note this? I am becoming increasingly aware of my need to build true, meaningful ritual into my life. As someone who loves the notion of the non-linear, this is a bit of challenge. Still, I am understanding that ritual is to living as the skeleton is to the body... providing core structure and strength if the ritual is strong and meaningful.
So, my ritual starts today. EVERY day, I will devote time to prayer and meditation in the morning and the evening to begin and close the day. EVERY day, in that time, I will read sacred text of all divine faiths. It will be my source and anchor. And... EVERY day, I will devote time to my physical health and take care to eat what sustains and energizes me, allowing myself flexibility and variety.
EVERY day, I will devote some time to play and joyful experience.
Finally, EVERY day I will work at something I love or learn something I love.
All in all, this allows considerable flexibility but it aligns with the spirit of All I Ever Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum... to work some, learn some, play some live some EVERY day.
We live in a world where we work and "look forward" to weekends and days off and holidays. There is nothing wrong with that except I believe that we find ourselves living in what Richard Bolles refers to as the 3 boxes of life... education in our early years, work in our middle years and recreation in our latter years. He contends (and I agree) that we need to do a little of each EVERY day.
This blog is about unity, but not just of the group and community... of our lives. Unity starts with balance. Balance requires some structure so that we do not avoid key areas of our lives. My suggestion is that you decide today that EVERY day you will address matters of the mind, the body, the spirit, and the soul. I know that is my focus now.
Enjoy the day.
Barry
Rituals. Rich jewels. Hmmmmm...
It is a word laden with much meaning in many circles, and not a lot of it good. Still, on this (Canadian) Thanksgiving Weekend, I am left with the thought that it is not ritual that is good or bad but the nature and meaning (if any) of the ritual.
Yes, on this day, I am thinking that there are four primary areas to our lives... mind, body, spirit, and soul. For me, mind consists of matters of vocation and education. Body refers to those things of the physical, fiscal and physiological..... material health, financial health, physical health. Spirit is that which deals with emotional health, inspiration and contribution. Soul, the deeper spirit, the core.
Why do I note this? I am becoming increasingly aware of my need to build true, meaningful ritual into my life. As someone who loves the notion of the non-linear, this is a bit of challenge. Still, I am understanding that ritual is to living as the skeleton is to the body... providing core structure and strength if the ritual is strong and meaningful.
So, my ritual starts today. EVERY day, I will devote time to prayer and meditation in the morning and the evening to begin and close the day. EVERY day, in that time, I will read sacred text of all divine faiths. It will be my source and anchor. And... EVERY day, I will devote time to my physical health and take care to eat what sustains and energizes me, allowing myself flexibility and variety.
EVERY day, I will devote some time to play and joyful experience.
Finally, EVERY day I will work at something I love or learn something I love.
All in all, this allows considerable flexibility but it aligns with the spirit of All I Ever Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum... to work some, learn some, play some live some EVERY day.
We live in a world where we work and "look forward" to weekends and days off and holidays. There is nothing wrong with that except I believe that we find ourselves living in what Richard Bolles refers to as the 3 boxes of life... education in our early years, work in our middle years and recreation in our latter years. He contends (and I agree) that we need to do a little of each EVERY day.
This blog is about unity, but not just of the group and community... of our lives. Unity starts with balance. Balance requires some structure so that we do not avoid key areas of our lives. My suggestion is that you decide today that EVERY day you will address matters of the mind, the body, the spirit, and the soul. I know that is my focus now.
Enjoy the day.
Barry
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Twin Spirits United
This blog is a compilation of thoughts, professional and personal.
With that in mind and heart, on Saturday evening, October 3, 2009 I had some good friends over and we watched The Shadow Effect produced by Debbie Ford. With contributions by Marianne Williamson (I love her) and Deepak Chopra, among others, it is a solid and even remarkable piece of work that addresses what they refer to as our "shadow". I refer to it as our "veil". Whichever and however we speak of it, it is about that part of us which we are not "happy" with; that part of us we hide from the world... that which we see as weakness.
In watching and engaging the DVD, a thought occurred to me. At its core, we are talking about embracing our whole selves, using the struggles of our lives as sources of strength and teaching... not of shame and embarrassment... and thanking them, not being ashamed of them.
What I found powerful and a remembrance for me was the opportunity to name "the pain", or shadow. I was a very loving and audacious child who grew up with the notion that I was "too soft" and would have my heart broken. While at my core, I knew that I was strong, constant and well intended messages surrounded me that how I felt and how strongly I felt it was somehow naive and would leave me open to abuse. It was seen as not practical.
Now, I blame no one.
I only recognize that throughout my adult life, I have strived to be "responsible", a guardian if you will... the protector, vigilant. It served me well in many ways, throughout my life. Still, it caused that audacious, idealistic, bountiful soul to get buried amidst the pragmatism.
Today, this day, after real and engaging prayer and meditation and a day of being me, I realize that the "balance" for me needs to shift. That indomitable spirit of which people have seen shades and glimpses (many would say I have in abundance, but little do they know the degree LOL)... it needs release from its almost self-imposed exile. That does not mean that I somehow throw all things in the air and renounce "realism". But, part of my "realism" is this unconstrained spirit. I think of it as bringing that spirit to the front lines to stand side-by-side with the responsible one. Balance. ;-)
My Baha'i Faith tells me that God is real, and unknowable and creates us because "He" loves us. I believe that in work and play, we each somehow believe that we are to hide aspects of us which we are told are weak, flawed... not appropriate in this crazy world. We put them aside, somehow feeling that if we ignore them, they will go away. I do not believe that this means that we share all secrets. Still, I do believe that our authenticity requires us to realize that what we have been told are weaknesses are, equally, strengths in that we can learn from them.
This blog is about "wholiness"... and in watching The Shadow Effect, I suggest that wholiness is advanced when we embrace all that we are and have experienced. My personal faith tells me nothing has happened without a reason and that my true and only power is to discern the lessons and act upon them. I will be watching the interactive version of the DVD this coming Thanksgiving weekend, taking Thanksgiving Day as a retreat... or maybe I should call it an "advance". ;-)
Bottom line, I suggest you might want to see the DVD. Regardless, I suggest you name that which you have long hidden and see as pain... and you have that conversation with yourself about what it has brought to your life in positives. For me, I sit here typing, knowing that I have found a remarkable new sense of balance of 2 warrior spirits, one guardian, one fierce... one shield, one sword... and I am embrace them both. My spirit roars!
May your spirit and all that it has experienced and the strengths and lessons you have gained from it all, shine and roar!
Peace, prosperity, and passion... and please stay tuned.
Barry
With that in mind and heart, on Saturday evening, October 3, 2009 I had some good friends over and we watched The Shadow Effect produced by Debbie Ford. With contributions by Marianne Williamson (I love her) and Deepak Chopra, among others, it is a solid and even remarkable piece of work that addresses what they refer to as our "shadow". I refer to it as our "veil". Whichever and however we speak of it, it is about that part of us which we are not "happy" with; that part of us we hide from the world... that which we see as weakness.
In watching and engaging the DVD, a thought occurred to me. At its core, we are talking about embracing our whole selves, using the struggles of our lives as sources of strength and teaching... not of shame and embarrassment... and thanking them, not being ashamed of them.
What I found powerful and a remembrance for me was the opportunity to name "the pain", or shadow. I was a very loving and audacious child who grew up with the notion that I was "too soft" and would have my heart broken. While at my core, I knew that I was strong, constant and well intended messages surrounded me that how I felt and how strongly I felt it was somehow naive and would leave me open to abuse. It was seen as not practical.
Now, I blame no one.
I only recognize that throughout my adult life, I have strived to be "responsible", a guardian if you will... the protector, vigilant. It served me well in many ways, throughout my life. Still, it caused that audacious, idealistic, bountiful soul to get buried amidst the pragmatism.
Today, this day, after real and engaging prayer and meditation and a day of being me, I realize that the "balance" for me needs to shift. That indomitable spirit of which people have seen shades and glimpses (many would say I have in abundance, but little do they know the degree LOL)... it needs release from its almost self-imposed exile. That does not mean that I somehow throw all things in the air and renounce "realism". But, part of my "realism" is this unconstrained spirit. I think of it as bringing that spirit to the front lines to stand side-by-side with the responsible one. Balance. ;-)
My Baha'i Faith tells me that God is real, and unknowable and creates us because "He" loves us. I believe that in work and play, we each somehow believe that we are to hide aspects of us which we are told are weak, flawed... not appropriate in this crazy world. We put them aside, somehow feeling that if we ignore them, they will go away. I do not believe that this means that we share all secrets. Still, I do believe that our authenticity requires us to realize that what we have been told are weaknesses are, equally, strengths in that we can learn from them.
This blog is about "wholiness"... and in watching The Shadow Effect, I suggest that wholiness is advanced when we embrace all that we are and have experienced. My personal faith tells me nothing has happened without a reason and that my true and only power is to discern the lessons and act upon them. I will be watching the interactive version of the DVD this coming Thanksgiving weekend, taking Thanksgiving Day as a retreat... or maybe I should call it an "advance". ;-)
Bottom line, I suggest you might want to see the DVD. Regardless, I suggest you name that which you have long hidden and see as pain... and you have that conversation with yourself about what it has brought to your life in positives. For me, I sit here typing, knowing that I have found a remarkable new sense of balance of 2 warrior spirits, one guardian, one fierce... one shield, one sword... and I am embrace them both. My spirit roars!
May your spirit and all that it has experienced and the strengths and lessons you have gained from it all, shine and roar!
Peace, prosperity, and passion... and please stay tuned.
Barry
Monday, September 28, 2009
The Official Launch of Wholiness and a New Chapter
Well, here we are and again... the second entry and the true official launch of my new blog called WHOLINESS.
As noted in the first entry, "I find myself being a man of many thoughts, but a recurring theme... my journey to understanding oneness... oneness in our organizations, schools, communities, and ourselves. These days, I refer to myself as The Unity Guy because, as I look back at my personal and professional history, I witness a deep desire to find how we come together and how we see our lives as organic and whole."
Well, this day, Monday September 28 2009, marks the launch of my new website barrylgreen.com. Contained therein is a visual and textual description of who I am and what I do in my speaking, educating, training, facilitating, coaching, writing, entertaining and more. The site reflects the "whole" of me, in many ways. To paraphrase what I believe to be an original Buddhist Writing, mastery in life comes when we can no longer distinguish between work and play, between learning and recreation, between love and work and more... I feel that I am moving in that direction, blessed.
These days, I am Boot Camping with Courtney and Andy at Body Rock Boot Camp. I am getting wonderful massage therapy from Allison Martin. I am Salsa dancing with Dee Connolly. I am teaching line dancing at the College of the North Atlantic, and hosting Karaoke Nation at the Sundance. I am writing blogs and articles and even dabbling in cartooning. Why do I say all of this? Simply because, it is who I am and what I do. At a recent presentation, I found myself telling my audience that my brain is neither linear nor lateral in its thinking, but cosmic ;-). What I meant, I went on to explain, is that ideas come from all directions and none, but they are mine, and I must move on them. That is my authentic self... a creative tornado, with a gentle center.
I am down 5 notches on my belt, and almost 40 pounds!!! I am wearing new, smaller clothes and fitting into stuff that I haven't in quite a while. I am feeling stronger, faster and smarter about my health. I am feeling whole... and that started with being authentic and true and knowing that I needed to truly take care of myself for the long and sweet run. You do too.
In the days and weeks and months to come, you will be hearing about projects like Hard Walks with myself and Mike Nordby (www.globalyouthmentor.com). Check out www.HardWalks.blogs.com. We are calling on individuals, workplaces, schools and communities to engage a new vision of the healthiest Province in Canada. This vision is about having our physical condition reach our spirit and character. It is something in which Mike and I find great passion and we are looking for Random Acts of Wellness Warriors... more to follow. For now, it is another reflection of authenticity.
I encourage you to ask yourself "what will truly deeply make me happy?" and start moving to that place.
My first notation in this second and official launch entry is to say that we need to be "true" and that requires courage. It means that we face what we do well and what we don't and we claim both. Our light and our dark, embraced.... understanding that perfect as a noun does not exist but as a verb, it is our true path. To perfect who we are requires us to increasingly be true to our core.
So, as noted, "Here, on any given day, you will find thoughts and quotes that inspire and challenge, articles, videos, and all things that might help us on our paths in life ... individually and collectively. So, chime in, subscribe, become a part of something that is about the truest of balance, where work and play, learning and recreation, and all become as one seamless thing called our lives. It is about synergy, about the whole... about WHOLINESS."
Peace, prosperity... and please stay tuned.
Barry
As noted in the first entry, "I find myself being a man of many thoughts, but a recurring theme... my journey to understanding oneness... oneness in our organizations, schools, communities, and ourselves. These days, I refer to myself as The Unity Guy because, as I look back at my personal and professional history, I witness a deep desire to find how we come together and how we see our lives as organic and whole."
Well, this day, Monday September 28 2009, marks the launch of my new website barrylgreen.com. Contained therein is a visual and textual description of who I am and what I do in my speaking, educating, training, facilitating, coaching, writing, entertaining and more. The site reflects the "whole" of me, in many ways. To paraphrase what I believe to be an original Buddhist Writing, mastery in life comes when we can no longer distinguish between work and play, between learning and recreation, between love and work and more... I feel that I am moving in that direction, blessed.
These days, I am Boot Camping with Courtney and Andy at Body Rock Boot Camp. I am getting wonderful massage therapy from Allison Martin. I am Salsa dancing with Dee Connolly. I am teaching line dancing at the College of the North Atlantic, and hosting Karaoke Nation at the Sundance. I am writing blogs and articles and even dabbling in cartooning. Why do I say all of this? Simply because, it is who I am and what I do. At a recent presentation, I found myself telling my audience that my brain is neither linear nor lateral in its thinking, but cosmic ;-). What I meant, I went on to explain, is that ideas come from all directions and none, but they are mine, and I must move on them. That is my authentic self... a creative tornado, with a gentle center.
I am down 5 notches on my belt, and almost 40 pounds!!! I am wearing new, smaller clothes and fitting into stuff that I haven't in quite a while. I am feeling stronger, faster and smarter about my health. I am feeling whole... and that started with being authentic and true and knowing that I needed to truly take care of myself for the long and sweet run. You do too.
In the days and weeks and months to come, you will be hearing about projects like Hard Walks with myself and Mike Nordby (www.globalyouthmentor.com). Check out www.HardWalks.blogs.com. We are calling on individuals, workplaces, schools and communities to engage a new vision of the healthiest Province in Canada. This vision is about having our physical condition reach our spirit and character. It is something in which Mike and I find great passion and we are looking for Random Acts of Wellness Warriors... more to follow. For now, it is another reflection of authenticity.
I encourage you to ask yourself "what will truly deeply make me happy?" and start moving to that place.
My first notation in this second and official launch entry is to say that we need to be "true" and that requires courage. It means that we face what we do well and what we don't and we claim both. Our light and our dark, embraced.... understanding that perfect as a noun does not exist but as a verb, it is our true path. To perfect who we are requires us to increasingly be true to our core.
So, as noted, "Here, on any given day, you will find thoughts and quotes that inspire and challenge, articles, videos, and all things that might help us on our paths in life ... individually and collectively. So, chime in, subscribe, become a part of something that is about the truest of balance, where work and play, learning and recreation, and all become as one seamless thing called our lives. It is about synergy, about the whole... about WHOLINESS."
Peace, prosperity... and please stay tuned.
Barry
Sunday, September 6, 2009
And so it begins... the journey to WHOLINESS ;-)
Well, here we are... and welcome. Welcome to my new blog called WHOLINESS.
I find myself being a man of many thoughts, but a recurring theme... my journey to understanding oneness... oneness in our organizations, schools, communities, and ourselves. These days, I refer to myself as The Unity Guy because. as I look back at my personal and professional history, I witness a deep desire to find how we come together and how we see our lives as organic and whole.
I had 9 blogs! All were vehicles for my various passions. Positive thoughts, challenging ideas, sacred wisdom, health, success, purpose and more. Still, over this past summer, I came to one simple conclusion that 9 blogs did not fit my sense of oneness and unity and wholeness. So, I thought to create a space where it is authentic Barry and incorporates all of the facets, under one roof.
Here, on any given day, you will find thoughts and quotes that inspire and challenge, articles, videos, and all things that might help us on our paths in life ... individually and collectively.
So, chime in, subscribe, become a part of something that is about the truest of balance, where work and play, learning and recreation, and all become as one seamless thing called our lives.
It is about synergy, about the whole... about WHOLINESS.
Peace, prosperity... and please stay tuned.
Barry
I find myself being a man of many thoughts, but a recurring theme... my journey to understanding oneness... oneness in our organizations, schools, communities, and ourselves. These days, I refer to myself as The Unity Guy because. as I look back at my personal and professional history, I witness a deep desire to find how we come together and how we see our lives as organic and whole.
I had 9 blogs! All were vehicles for my various passions. Positive thoughts, challenging ideas, sacred wisdom, health, success, purpose and more. Still, over this past summer, I came to one simple conclusion that 9 blogs did not fit my sense of oneness and unity and wholeness. So, I thought to create a space where it is authentic Barry and incorporates all of the facets, under one roof.
Here, on any given day, you will find thoughts and quotes that inspire and challenge, articles, videos, and all things that might help us on our paths in life ... individually and collectively.
So, chime in, subscribe, become a part of something that is about the truest of balance, where work and play, learning and recreation, and all become as one seamless thing called our lives.
It is about synergy, about the whole... about WHOLINESS.
Peace, prosperity... and please stay tuned.
Barry
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