Reflections on Awareness and An Announcement

Just posted my review of the book Awareness by Anthony De Mello (first mentioned here) at 800-CEO-READ blog.

When Tom Peters (via 800-CEO-READ) talks honestly and openly about his own stress and losing balance that's one face of awareness. When Jerry Colonna authentically shares a story about depression, stigma and stifled conversations and the toll on job performance, that's another face. When Stephen Covey is set to publish a book on The 8th Habit, and says "bottom line - there is a profound yearning in both people and organizations to find their true 'voice'," that's another face.

I note awareness is being discussed more openly and it has many faces. It's the keystone of authenticity, integrity, leadership, joy, finding your voice and purpose, clarity and a grounded beingness. I've practiced awareness through cultivating silence, non-judgmental self-observation and a good dose of open-minded unbridled curiousity as practically a full-time job for two years (you may note this coincides with the tech bust). It was difficult to keep a hold of when I went back to 50+ hour weeks this year - but I think I've now managed to regain the skill even in the midst of busyness.

Reading the book Awareness helped me come to terms with why I find it difficult to adequately discuss empathy, non-zero sum thinking or an abundant mentality, peak performance, collaboration, creativity, inspiration, transparency, authenticity, love (in its broadest sense) and a whole host of related subjects within a business context on this blog. It's because self-awareness is foundational to all these concepts and experiences. And bypassing awareness (at least to me) doesn't quite work. It's a bit like saying: Just trust me (sure this sounds counter-intuitive or just plain whacked), but this is the eventual result of the experiment so don't bother your pretty little head with the scientific observation for yourself.

I have many friends from scientific backgrounds who accept me with amused toleration. They like me despite my views. But I have learned not to debate with them any more. Unless you are willing to experience these things yourself, even so mundane a phenomenon as meditation sounds fanciful and absurd. From my point of view, these scientists are exactly like the New Guinea tribesmen who refuse to believe the metal birds in the sky contain people. How can you argue with them? Unless they're willing to go to the airport and see for themselves, no discussion is really possible.

And, of course, if they do go to the airport, no discussion is necessary.

So, in the end, find out for yourself. - Travels, by Michael Crichton

So I'd like to delve more deeply into the root of the matter - go to the foundation - and discuss and share awareness practices (yeah, appears to run counter to all I've just said but words are all the tools I have in this blog) on a much more regular basis.

We've got Power Wednesdays (via Lori Richardson), Innovation Tuesdays (via Matthew Homann)....how about (drumroll please)...

Awareness Mondays

I'll try to consolidate and cluster posts that aren't necessarily timely to appear on Mondays. So you can expect "Awareness Mondays" to kick-start your week.

"Why do you want to read others´ books when there is the book of yourself?" - The Little Book on Living, J.Krishnamurti

Awareness isn't really a linear process and because of that perhaps the topic should work well in a blog format. I like to look at blog entries as a bit holographic and iterative in nature. Each entry stands alone and yet, reflects the whole. Circling back, unfurling like a tender fern shoot, and growing into itself.

While I don't intend to have conference calls due to the global nature of the blogosphere, beyond the Awareness Mondays posts, I'd like to invite those that are sufficiently intrigued to join me in an interactive experiment - an Awareness Practice group. We'll read a few books such as Awareness, but this is certainly no book discussion group. The word practice is entirely intentional. It'll be challenging, exhilarating and most likely quite fun. There is no cost to join, I only ask that you are committed (for entirely your own reasons), that you participate as much as you can, and that you provide feedback (I might use some of the practices in a book). The only reason I'm not doing this as an extension of this blog is that I'd like to it to be less formal, I'd like participants to feel safe in a more private setting, I'd like to add other social media components and the frequency and focus of the interaction may not be of general interest to regular readers of Crossroads Dispatches. If interested, just subscribe to awareness-practice-subscribe at yahoogroups dot com and I'll send out more info.

"Not even the greatest guru in the world can take a single step for you. You've got to take it yourself...It is you who have to digest your food, it is you who have to understand. No one else can understand for you. It is you who have to seek. No one can seek for you. And if what you seek is truth, then you must do this. You can lean on no one." - Awareness, Anthony De Mello

Comments

[Jerry]

I love De Mello...just a wonderful writer.