Back From The Edge

This video got me thinking. . .

If small changes yield large changes in organizations, maybe it is true in my life. Maybe I am looking for big differences in my life to come from significant changes. The changes could be moving to a different part of the country or world, changing jobs, getting married/divorced/single again/living together, making a lot of money, immersing my life in art. Maybe the reality is the largest changes come from small acts such as keeping a gratitude journal, 10 minutes of meditation each day, walking a few times a week, sitting outside for a few minutes a day. Maybe my life is like a ship with a rudder. Small changes to the rudder brings about substantial changes in course.

It’s something to think about at least.

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” Robert Collier via @mencobabelajar

“Everything we do is in service of our needs.
When this one concept is applied to our view of others,
we’ll see that we have no real enemies,
that what others do to us is the best possible thing
they know to do to get their needs met.”

Marshall Rosenberg from Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life

The quote below is so right on. Don’t get caught up with the word ‘nirvana’. Think of it as [insert ultimate goal here]. It can work with just about any faith including with Hindus, Christians, atheists, agnostics, Wiccans, Muslims, Jews, and Mormons.

From the Dalai Lama:

“Nirvana may be the final object of attainment, but at the moment it is difficult to reach. Thus the practical and realistic aim is compassion, a warm heart, serving other people, helping others, respecting others, being less selfish. By practicing these, you can gain benefit and happiness that remain longer. If you investigate the purpose of life and, with the motivation that results from this inquiry, develop a good heart – compassion and love. Using your whole life this way, each day will become useful and meaningful.”

What do you think? How do you express compassion? How has it been expressed to you?

Image from Artbywicks.com

Marshall Rosenberg from Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life

I am constantly evaluating people, situations, and strangers. I think I am being objective, but I am mostly making a judgment and not an observation. Why is it important? I believe that I can only enter into true communication when I know how to observe without evaluating. It is hard to do.

Try this exercise sometime. Spend 5 minutes observing what is going on around you. The only thing not allowed is any evaluation. You could say, for example, ‘that woman is wearing a purple dress’ (observation) but not ‘that is a pretty dress’ (evaluation). ‘He is mean’ (evaluation) would not be allowed, but  ‘he yelled at me the last two times I spoke to him’ (observation) would be. More subtly ‘this is a great day’ (evaluation) would not be allowed, but ‘I am enjoying today’ (observation) is allowed. Try to be in the moment and simply observe.

Try it and let me know how it went.

“OBSERVE!! There are few things as
important, as religious, as that.”

Frederick Buechner