Looking at the graphic in the previous posting I'm struck by the increasing narrowness of space that "I" have to work with. The container that holds "I" is obviously much different than the container that holds "Ideals". Yet, they are both part of the same vessel. This disparity between "I" and my "Ideal" is actually very good news.
My ideals are larger than me. That's why they are compelling. The challenge I face is dealing with the failure to live up to my ideals. Coming to realize and accept that "failure" to live up to my ideals is normal actually provides me with a platform to sustain the movement to having my ideals live. How so? Again, sustainability can be thought of - must be thought of - as a process of developing the capacity to continuously start over. This notion can and does have profound implications for how we approach our lives, our businesses, our careers, our political processes and the shaping of our societies.
My life isn't about living up to my ideals. That's a position that can only result in blame and shame when I'm not successful. My life is about living into my ideals. Which means I will be ever involved in the process of starting over as I move further up the funnel that contains the ideals of which I and my life are a reflection.
Blaine...
Our conversation keeps going around and around, especially the part when you reminded me of the perspective that sustainability is the ability to continuously start over. Starting over is very closely akin to living into my ideals of less ego, more awareness and being present to what wants to happen. I have been thinking and acting with the awareness to continuously start over since that conversation with you and its implications are vast.
I am reminded of another simple and deep concept which is a close cousin to starting over since I find that living with it brings peace for me in a world that is relentlessly challenging. It is from the book, A New Earth. "The difference between the way things are and the way I think they should be is the territory of ego." Recently some neighboring teenage boys vandalized our vision quest Tee Pee and surroundings with ax and fire and I clearly had a problem with the way things were and the way I thought they should be, at least my ego had a big problem. That was the first situation I thought of when we were talking about sustainability, realizing that I had to start over with my beliefs of how to handle the situation and live into the ideals I have for this neighborhood. I narrowed the gap between ego and reality by moving from reacting out of an old consciousness of blame, shame, punishment and control to responses around having clear boundaries about teenage behavior in our neighborhood and and at the same time promoting development and responsibility of the teen's of this community. The boys, their parents and I are in a conversation in which my requests need to be met on a timeline and if they are not, the problem can be turned over to the police. My requests are strong but not demeaning, and leave room for some creative and higher level thinking on the part of the boys. It is still a work in progress.
The conversation that you and I had has left me more aware and awake to my own responsibilities right here in my back yard to think globally and act locally.
Many thanks... Dan
Posted by: Dan Petersen | March 29, 2006 at 08:18 PM