The Awareness Initiative Blog

January 17, 2008

I gave a speech the other night, the content of which “flew in the face of the beliefs” of some of my fellow Toastmasters. I was told that my ideas needed further examples to verify them, and there may be truth to this. However, one person suggested that I back up my ideas with quotes from famous and “important” people, so that they carry more weight.

This suggestion got me thinking. How much do we miss in life if we’re putting the “famous and important” people above the ones in front of us? We are all wise in our own worlds. We all have superb understandings unique to our situations and experience. Are these understandings worthless or false unless backed up by those who are recognized by our culture?

In truth, many of the greatest prophets – ones we quote from often – were not recognized in their own time. Even Jesus had a small following compared to the number of people alive at the time. So, don’t discount the wisdom of the person standing in front of you, no matter how strange the musings might seem. These musings may be the pillars of truth that uphold future generations. Open your mind and you might learn something new and profound.

January 8, 2008

It’s “fulfill your resolutions” time. While goals are very useful, it’s also important to honor the spaces between them.We’re used to creating lists of “important” things to do and filling in the blank spaces between the lines with stuff such as laundry, errands, going to the bank, etc. We believe that the things to do on the list are all-important while other stuff is just a waste of time. What if all of life is stuff and we simply place more importance on some of it than we do on others? What if all that’s required is our mere presence in deference to our most aware self and being ready in the moment? What if creating and moving through life is a matter of the following six steps?

1. Dream.
2. Set your intentions that the dream will become real.
3. Find your center and just BE in the moment.
4. Act according to your intentions when you feel the need or are called upon.
5. Look back at the end of the day or week, and see how you’ve progressed toward your goal, and reevaluate your intentions.
6. Continue.

Most of us feel restless when we follow the preceding steps. We’re so accustomed to projecting a part of us ahead of ourselves that we feel discomfort in the present. We identify with our actions and accomplishments; therefore, we feel insignificant when we’re not checking things off of our lists. There is often an underlying belief or opinion that we’re not enough just being here and that we don’t deserve to just be. But, being is why we’re here; bringing our being to here is the greatest gift we have to offer.