It is January 20th, 2009. Barack Obama who is a Noble person with a noble vision for America is now my president. I am moved beyond belief, tears stream down as I watch the mix of faces from all over the country and I am once again restored to faith in our wondrous country.
It is a time when the word noble can be used without fear that it will be misunderstood as there is no one on the countries leadership who exemplifies it at least at the top posts.
I am ready, willing and able to be one of the ones that Barack spoke to regarding being a responsible member of the countries' effort to put back together in a brand new way a place for hope, vision and fortitude.
I have been working for the last year on launching my own Noble Purpose Social Enterprise. Please look over the link www.poundsforpoverty.com and see what I have been up to with my co-founder Maryann Marks.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, June 16, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
You can find inspiration anywhere-what are you looking for?
I was watching Brett Favre retire last week.
Here I am sweating up a storm on the elliptical trainer in an effort to save this 61 yr old body from rack and ruin and one of my nemesis- well really the 49ers antihero, is talking in a way that was inspiring and uplifting. It is not what he said so much as the way he said it- I was moved by his genuineness, his emotions flowing because what he loved he no longer had passion and willingness to endure to experience. And he was getting out when it didn't have the same meaning for him.
I loved his trueness- he is what he is and nothing less or more. I am inspired by people who are genuine even if I hated his ability to decimate what used to be my team that I gave blood for on Sundays.
I look for things to be inspired by- he is just one small example but I am puzzled and appalled by how few also look to be moved, touched and inspired.
I think we live in an era of commonality and lowest standards for human decency and respect that I have witnessed in my six decades.
I encourage you to consider this:
Inspiration means to breathe in- we take in oxygen- we inspire. Breath- the source of life- inspiration is a source of life too.
How does one become inspirable?
By committing to looking for what is good and kind and wholesome and beautiful and making note of it in your mind and out loud. Watch what happens to a conversation when you say what you are awed by or moved by or care deeply about. Notice how different it feels to watch for what is right and true and authentic in the world.
Pollyanna? maybe but it feels better than to watch for what is wrong and bad and harmful.
Maybe Brett is not a good person really- maybe some day I will find out that he is an Elliot Spitzer kind of guy but for that moment and in his glorious career he showed me what it is like to be completely passionate about a game that he gave his all to with no reservations.
Here I am sweating up a storm on the elliptical trainer in an effort to save this 61 yr old body from rack and ruin and one of my nemesis- well really the 49ers antihero, is talking in a way that was inspiring and uplifting. It is not what he said so much as the way he said it- I was moved by his genuineness, his emotions flowing because what he loved he no longer had passion and willingness to endure to experience. And he was getting out when it didn't have the same meaning for him.
I loved his trueness- he is what he is and nothing less or more. I am inspired by people who are genuine even if I hated his ability to decimate what used to be my team that I gave blood for on Sundays.
I look for things to be inspired by- he is just one small example but I am puzzled and appalled by how few also look to be moved, touched and inspired.
I think we live in an era of commonality and lowest standards for human decency and respect that I have witnessed in my six decades.
I encourage you to consider this:
Inspiration means to breathe in- we take in oxygen- we inspire. Breath- the source of life- inspiration is a source of life too.
How does one become inspirable?
By committing to looking for what is good and kind and wholesome and beautiful and making note of it in your mind and out loud. Watch what happens to a conversation when you say what you are awed by or moved by or care deeply about. Notice how different it feels to watch for what is right and true and authentic in the world.
Pollyanna? maybe but it feels better than to watch for what is wrong and bad and harmful.
Maybe Brett is not a good person really- maybe some day I will find out that he is an Elliot Spitzer kind of guy but for that moment and in his glorious career he showed me what it is like to be completely passionate about a game that he gave his all to with no reservations.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Finding things wrong with someone is like shooting fish in a barrel
It is very easy to criticize. I love the quote from Michelangelo that the CEO, Michael Strong of Flow -a Not for profit says in response to the habit of finding fault"Criticize by creating"
If you don't like something go it one better. If you are so sure that you can do it better try.
I feel that it is ignoble- that is- the opposite of nobility to always finding fault with people, institutions and companies.
It is not that there is not a lot to criticize. It is true that without watchdog groups and individual consciences there would be little social change or improvement.
It isn't that I am pointing to- it is the habit of consistently finding what is wrong with this picture without the balancing movement of appreciation and acknowledgment of what is good and true and wholesome.
So let me start with me:
On this blog I want to say thank you to all those who have influenced our lifestyles for the better. C. Everett Koop for taking a stand on tobacco as the Surgeon General, the pioneers of exercise- like Ken Cooper- Mr Aerobic exercise, Adelle Davis, Jack La Lanne, the first people in the integrative medicine movement like Dr Andy Weil and a special thanks to John P Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods. I assert that John and his colleagues at Whole Foods have revolutionized the way we think about what we deserve in food, "fast" food, and the myriad products that we are exposed to because Whole Foods supports entrepreneurs in the natural foods industry in so many ways.
John is a great example of someone who it is easy to find fault in- the blog entries, the hoopla surrounding his faux pas/indiscretion/mistakes- I am not one who can comment on the veracity or hype of the inquiry- what I can speak to is his leadership of one of the best companies in the world and his sparkling example of visionary, conscious capitalism.
I felt like an onlooker to a pack of hungry junkyard dogs looking for ways to bring him down when the news hit.
It is the same garbage that we will be subject to for the next nine months in the election cycle- just watch the ratio of facts and deep, thoughtful inquiry compared to judgement,labeling, "expose" and sparse information blown into stories.
I feel so strongly that part of being a noble person or having a noble cause includes the power of creation and taking the risk to try to do something well if you are not satisfied with things the way they are now.
My encouragement to you is to fast for one month on criticism. Notice when you are habitually jumping to finding fault and ask yourself- "what would I do better and can I demonstrate that in my actions today?"
Shooting fish in a barrel is not very much fun or interesting. Try doing something truly challenging- find something inspiring in what people are up to right now.
If you don't like something go it one better. If you are so sure that you can do it better try.
I feel that it is ignoble- that is- the opposite of nobility to always finding fault with people, institutions and companies.
It is not that there is not a lot to criticize. It is true that without watchdog groups and individual consciences there would be little social change or improvement.
It isn't that I am pointing to- it is the habit of consistently finding what is wrong with this picture without the balancing movement of appreciation and acknowledgment of what is good and true and wholesome.
So let me start with me:
On this blog I want to say thank you to all those who have influenced our lifestyles for the better. C. Everett Koop for taking a stand on tobacco as the Surgeon General, the pioneers of exercise- like Ken Cooper- Mr Aerobic exercise, Adelle Davis, Jack La Lanne, the first people in the integrative medicine movement like Dr Andy Weil and a special thanks to John P Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods. I assert that John and his colleagues at Whole Foods have revolutionized the way we think about what we deserve in food, "fast" food, and the myriad products that we are exposed to because Whole Foods supports entrepreneurs in the natural foods industry in so many ways.
John is a great example of someone who it is easy to find fault in- the blog entries, the hoopla surrounding his faux pas/indiscretion/mistakes- I am not one who can comment on the veracity or hype of the inquiry- what I can speak to is his leadership of one of the best companies in the world and his sparkling example of visionary, conscious capitalism.
I felt like an onlooker to a pack of hungry junkyard dogs looking for ways to bring him down when the news hit.
It is the same garbage that we will be subject to for the next nine months in the election cycle- just watch the ratio of facts and deep, thoughtful inquiry compared to judgement,labeling, "expose" and sparse information blown into stories.
I feel so strongly that part of being a noble person or having a noble cause includes the power of creation and taking the risk to try to do something well if you are not satisfied with things the way they are now.
My encouragement to you is to fast for one month on criticism. Notice when you are habitually jumping to finding fault and ask yourself- "what would I do better and can I demonstrate that in my actions today?"
Shooting fish in a barrel is not very much fun or interesting. Try doing something truly challenging- find something inspiring in what people are up to right now.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Butterfly docents are Noble too
Yesterday I went to the Pacific Grove sanctuary for the Monarch Butterflies as they cluster- 10,000 at a time. The orange and black filled the air. Two Docents gave lively vignettes about the tagging process- just imagine yourself at dawn in the Monterey cold air tinged with ocean salt and your taking each individual Monarch from his scrum and placing a round tag on its wings and then blowing warm air on it so that its wings will open again and they can fly away.
The Docent's seemed to me an example of Nobility of purpose put to a reason that is small but inspiring nonetheless.
There are so many examples of people who spend thier time doing small acts of kindness, courage, grace and love with no thought of being on stage or recognized by others- no applause for these two who braved the cold and were hanging out with a creature that could not vote or pay them a salary.
I like the saying that you will see a miracle when you believe in it, not that miracles happen when you believe. You have to look for the Noble- it is there.
I worked with two women at a High tech company recently who were so unselfish and looking for ways to show that there was good in people through the medium of adult learning courses- they were working in an environment that was not at all conducive to optimism but they chose to be a demonstration of positive well being regardless of the external circumstances.
My point? Take this new year and look for the kindness, the compassion, the generosity in others. Or be the one who loves no matter what.
The Docent's seemed to me an example of Nobility of purpose put to a reason that is small but inspiring nonetheless.
There are so many examples of people who spend thier time doing small acts of kindness, courage, grace and love with no thought of being on stage or recognized by others- no applause for these two who braved the cold and were hanging out with a creature that could not vote or pay them a salary.
I like the saying that you will see a miracle when you believe in it, not that miracles happen when you believe. You have to look for the Noble- it is there.
I worked with two women at a High tech company recently who were so unselfish and looking for ways to show that there was good in people through the medium of adult learning courses- they were working in an environment that was not at all conducive to optimism but they chose to be a demonstration of positive well being regardless of the external circumstances.
My point? Take this new year and look for the kindness, the compassion, the generosity in others. Or be the one who loves no matter what.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Nobility requires the right state of mind
Some people are naturally mentally alert, very intuitve, highly conscious of what they think, feel, sense, what their motives are, what they intend and what they want from you.
Not me.
I had to come to the right state of mind after 30 years of hard work.
30 Years ago, I felt like I was a walking automaton. I only know that in retrospect and with the contrast provided by training.
Here is an analogy. Imagine that you were committed to developing a stronger physical sense of well being. Stamina, strength, flexibility all would be on the top of your list of attributes that would be desirable.
Mental training is no different. To be mentally tough, resilient, flexible, creative and alert all require skills except for those blessed with natural talent.
The training process is well established in many parts of the globe.
Go to Asia and watch the rigor, effort and discipline that young children exert in music lessons, learning languages other than their own, studying their required courses and you see how starting at a very young age they are being taught the value of training the mind.
Here are four simple ways to get started if this should appeal to your sense of rightness.
1. Cut out distractions to your attention. Splitting your focus between cell phone, computer screen, friend's voice, telephone, your partner's requests for your attention, kids needs and your work is a great way to reduce your IQ and suboptimize your ability to excel. If you are on the phone be completely and absolutely on the phone with full undivided attention, if you are making love keep your mind on the sensations and the full experience of lovemaking, if you are listening to your kids then give them the gift of your attention-fully engaged.
2. Train your self to spend 5 minutes per day on doing some form of attention- enhancing activity. There are practices in eastern disciplines like "Mindfullness" training, Yoga, martial arts that are amenable to the western student and enjoyable to practice. Or, give yourself the gift of completely listening to your favorite music- dissolve into that Chopin etude or Eric Clapton guitar rift.
3. Find a trainer. It is way more easy to train with someone who is already skilled at mental training than to try to do it yourself. One way of doing that is to buy a good tape, CD or DVD from Sounds True Catalog that appeals to you from a solid, experienced teacher. Or read a book on the subject of meditation or Yoga or Peak Performance or any one of the 1000 subjects readily available to you in this age.
4. Apply the skills that you acquire everywhere. I have been deeply impressed by the emphasis that mental training can have on personal relationships. For example, it is common for all of us to have conversations that are difficult to hear. Someone says something that we don't agree with or that hurts our feelings or that we just plain see differently.
If you learn to be patient and listen with all your focused awareness, you find that the conversations tend to go better and you often learn something you did not know.
I like your responses. Write to me at elad2@ix.netcom.com or go on my website www.noblepurposeconsulting.com
Not me.
I had to come to the right state of mind after 30 years of hard work.
30 Years ago, I felt like I was a walking automaton. I only know that in retrospect and with the contrast provided by training.
Here is an analogy. Imagine that you were committed to developing a stronger physical sense of well being. Stamina, strength, flexibility all would be on the top of your list of attributes that would be desirable.
Mental training is no different. To be mentally tough, resilient, flexible, creative and alert all require skills except for those blessed with natural talent.
The training process is well established in many parts of the globe.
Go to Asia and watch the rigor, effort and discipline that young children exert in music lessons, learning languages other than their own, studying their required courses and you see how starting at a very young age they are being taught the value of training the mind.
Here are four simple ways to get started if this should appeal to your sense of rightness.
1. Cut out distractions to your attention. Splitting your focus between cell phone, computer screen, friend's voice, telephone, your partner's requests for your attention, kids needs and your work is a great way to reduce your IQ and suboptimize your ability to excel. If you are on the phone be completely and absolutely on the phone with full undivided attention, if you are making love keep your mind on the sensations and the full experience of lovemaking, if you are listening to your kids then give them the gift of your attention-fully engaged.
2. Train your self to spend 5 minutes per day on doing some form of attention- enhancing activity. There are practices in eastern disciplines like "Mindfullness" training, Yoga, martial arts that are amenable to the western student and enjoyable to practice. Or, give yourself the gift of completely listening to your favorite music- dissolve into that Chopin etude or Eric Clapton guitar rift.
3. Find a trainer. It is way more easy to train with someone who is already skilled at mental training than to try to do it yourself. One way of doing that is to buy a good tape, CD or DVD from Sounds True Catalog that appeals to you from a solid, experienced teacher. Or read a book on the subject of meditation or Yoga or Peak Performance or any one of the 1000 subjects readily available to you in this age.
4. Apply the skills that you acquire everywhere. I have been deeply impressed by the emphasis that mental training can have on personal relationships. For example, it is common for all of us to have conversations that are difficult to hear. Someone says something that we don't agree with or that hurts our feelings or that we just plain see differently.
If you learn to be patient and listen with all your focused awareness, you find that the conversations tend to go better and you often learn something you did not know.
I like your responses. Write to me at elad2@ix.netcom.com or go on my website www.noblepurposeconsulting.com
Monday, December 17, 2007
What do you do when dealing with ignoble people?
So big deal, you want to be noble. But the fact is that most of the world is functioning at a second grade level in terms of ethics and consciousness.
What is the implication for you?
I have found more than anytime in my life how true it is that you can find goodness and evil anywhere you look.
It is not the fact of the state of people's minds. It is what you do with their actions.
The Buddha said that all we own are our actions.
I suggest that the two things that we have under our influence is our motives and our actions.
So, it is not useful or skillful to look at what others do except to ask how would I respond that will make me feel whole, skilled and awake?
Several vignettes recently come to my mind. They all illustrate the fact that my part in the interaction was to have been imagining that they were rational or moral or conscious of their actions and the consequences.
None of that was true. Critize me for being naive. I have always had this problem believing people when they tell me something.
I guess I am one of those that PT Barnum spoke of when he said there was a sucker born every minute.
But I would rather be hopeful, caring and assuming the best of people rather than pessimistic and focusing on what is wrong with the human race.
I aspire to something better than the harm that people do to each other. This is part of my noble purpose- to stand for the view that we can all wake up and be our noble selves.
Elad
What is the implication for you?
I have found more than anytime in my life how true it is that you can find goodness and evil anywhere you look.
It is not the fact of the state of people's minds. It is what you do with their actions.
The Buddha said that all we own are our actions.
I suggest that the two things that we have under our influence is our motives and our actions.
So, it is not useful or skillful to look at what others do except to ask how would I respond that will make me feel whole, skilled and awake?
Several vignettes recently come to my mind. They all illustrate the fact that my part in the interaction was to have been imagining that they were rational or moral or conscious of their actions and the consequences.
None of that was true. Critize me for being naive. I have always had this problem believing people when they tell me something.
I guess I am one of those that PT Barnum spoke of when he said there was a sucker born every minute.
But I would rather be hopeful, caring and assuming the best of people rather than pessimistic and focusing on what is wrong with the human race.
I aspire to something better than the harm that people do to each other. This is part of my noble purpose- to stand for the view that we can all wake up and be our noble selves.
Elad
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