Most of us are living in fear of our darker emotions. And why wouldn’t we, when our culture and media are telling us that our ideal state is one of constantly being happy and productive? And if we aren’t, then hey, here’s a solution to help you BECOME constantly happy and productive.
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We are being called towards progress. Our own progress, individual and societal. Will we answer the call? Will you?
Or, why it matters that you find your greatness.
If there’s one thing that flattens the playing field amongst all humans, it’s time. We each have one life to live, to give, to dream, to learn, to grow, to overcome where we are and get to where we are going.
I know you’re probably busy working or getting to the end of your day, but I invite you to take a few minutes to slack off, and read this. Go ahead, slack off for 8 minutes.
Imagine businesses and organisations became places for such conscious development of humanity. Places of play. Of true, open-ended creativity. Of real fulfilment, meaning and purpose. This world is already on its way, and it's time we prepare ourselves for it.
They create and define the culture we live in, what we choose to value and how we measure ourselves up in society: art, design and branding. What if we are overlooking their potential to influence social behaviour enough to not just make business richer, but to solve some of the world’s most critical problems too?
This isn’t the world we were promised when we were growing up.Because really, we weren’t unhappy back then, when we had a lot less.
It’s hard enough to navigate through life and all its emotions, challenges, losses and frustrations without having to also be the best version of you in your work, family, friendships and still manage to come out feeling accomplished, creative and free.
We have this fabricated notion etched into our brains that work and real life are all about discomfort, and holiday and breaks are all about comfort. We have this notion implanted into us that real work entails production and generating financial capital, and deep inner work is a luxury afforded to those who have earned the freedom to play after putting in their time, across a lifetime or even generations.
I won’t lie, working for yourself, and by yourself, really isn’t for everyone. Self motivation is just the start of the list of tools you've got to have in your back pocket to make it work.
"Keep 20% of your stomach empty at all times." Imagine getting this advice at a 10-day silent meditation course, during which you can eat all you want during breakfast and lunch, but there is no dinner. (And no, there is no snacking either.)
What would it really take to make America great again? Maybe the problem isn’t Trump, but the dream that the American people don’t want to wake up from. The same dream that never comes true for them, president after president.