Time to read: It's a long one. A little over a minute and worth every second (if I may say so myself). :-)
Look! Last week's image applies again! Notice the second rung from the bottom.
I truly believe the Gandhi quote, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Talking about and wishing for what you want out there can only be accomplished by creating those exact same things in here.
- If you want more peace then how to create peace in yourself and your relationships?
- If you want more understanding, how do you become someone who understands?
- If you want integrity, then you must be impeccable and seek repair when you, inevitably, are not (because you're human, after all).
Which brings me to Changing the World Practice #2.
Responsibility
This is not your parents' "you must pay your bills" kind of responsibility. Responsibility means owning your life. Owning that you have created it all - the good, the bad, the ugly. One trick for taking responsibility is to do it without self-criticism and judgment. It's not about blaming yourself or others when things are hard. Here's an example:
Let's say you sailed through college and launched yourself into a career that felt pretty good at first. Then 10-years in you start to feel dissatisfied. Maybe you're not getting the promotions you want. Maybe you dread going to work. Maybe it all feels overwhelming, and you wonder if you need to quit. You will not find your answer by blaming your boss or the terrible corporate culture or by complaining constantly to your friends or beating yourself up for wasting time. (I know cuz I did this for 2 years.)
The answer will come from getting curious about yourself - What motivated you? (Pleasing others? Striving for recognition?) Where did you bypass your inner wisdom? How do you betray yourself and your own needs? What do you actually want for you life? How do you build the courage to create it?
This is what real responsibility looks like.
Imagine a world where EVERYONE takes responsibility for themselves. Wow. I'd like to live there.
You're the best!
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