Peace. The very reason for awakened companies is to create a more meaningful life rich with experiences and a harmonious world. Almost everything that is produced, developed, served, orchestrated and actioned is in some form of organization. Many of you know that an awakened company relies on awakened individuals to guide, reshape and build this evolved organization. We must look at our unconscious bias too in this type of organization, such as similar to me effect. Please see this article on Beirut and Paris and its compelling discussion on why we must feel empathy for all.
We are deeply saddened on many levels by the terrorist attacks. Our book launch in Vancouver had many moments of silence to heal our world.
The recent terrorists attacks are a human concocted problem and are reflective of a worldwide system that needs a reset. We need to foster human values across the world. Values to be included are:
Relaxed groundedness
Energetic engagement
Natural Integrity and authenticity
Acceptance
Compassion
Kindness
Openness
Truth seeking
Intentional awareness/focus
Connection and unity
Humility
We need to systematically be bringing these into our everyday lives for ourselves, relationships, family, organizations and society. We need a systemic, subtle reset to how we organize to allow for all to flourish.
We cannot awaken, however, without being deeply familiar with the peace and relaxed groundedness of the present moment. The following is some timely guidance from The Awakened Company‘s collaborator Christopher Papadopoulos:
LET IT BEGIN WITH ME
Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me exhorts the traditional Christian hymn. These words take on a greater importance during these days after the recent international terrorist attacks, when we are most vulnerable to slipping into our darker nature. The hurt and shock many are experiencing is a natural response. Even anger can be a natural response: there is a build-up of energy to make the body take action, to change things, to protect. Too much anger however, disconnects us from a deeper awareness and compassion. This has us flirting close to the same kind of destructive energy that flows through those who commit acts of extreme violence and cruelty. We can thus unintentionally move ourselves away from the peace we seek and create an atmosphere that enables others to continue their violent ways. We wish to release some of this pressure so that anger doesn’t lead to impulsive thoughts and reactions based in rage and xenophobia.
Moving your body vigorously (e.g. shaking your limbs, exercise, dance etc.) can help to dissipate some of this excess energy that has built up in the body. So can inhaling, tensing every muscle in the body for a few seconds and then releasing with a big exhale through the mouth (try this 5 times). Less pressure is a good start but given the apparent magnitude of the world’s problems a feeling of powerlessness can also set in. And yet you have more power than you can imagine to protect and to change things. You hold in your hands the key to personal peace and world peace. In fact peace can only begin with you, with each of us.
The most important thing you can do is something you have complete control over, to feel your body. Right now notice that your body is safe. Take a few full breaths feeling the expansion and contraction in your torso. This movement has been going on since you were born and noticing it is as important as anything you will ever do. Feel your body. No one else can do this vital work for you. There is no imminent threat. There is just you. Here. Now. After a few more deep breaths take a moment and notice your body moving and breathing all by itself.
Let’s go deeper to find more subtle levels of tension in the body. Any extra tension in the body is used by the mind as fuel to keep chattering and reacting and our goal is to quiet the mind. Unclench your jaw and solar plexus, drop your shoulders, and loosen your hands and feet. How deeply can you relax each body part? Relax your body as much as possible and feel your body move with each deep breath you take.
By fully feeling the body—which can only be felt now—you begin to enter the present moment. This quiets a mind which is designed to stand back from the concrete reality of now so that it can reflect and judge and plan from the abstract realm of thought. Soon you will realize that the mind is a valuable tool…that needs to be put down often. Beneath the typical flood of mental activity which distorts our experience of reality and numbs our experience of our deepest self, you will begin to notice a vibrant stillness, a transcendent peace. This peace is intelligent and comes with the information that it has always been here, waiting for you to notice it. It also comes with another surprising revelation: Peace is not something that we can create; it is a fundamental characteristic of who we are and inherent in all of life.
Your body, the room you are in—and indeed the entire world— is saturated with peace. By noticing the peace that we are beneath the turmoil of our thoughts and emotions we can also perceive the peace that is all around us. Now we know that all life is indeed sacred and interconnected. When we experience our peace-filled nature, dormant yet omnipresent peace becomes ‘activated’ and can now resonate across the planet. Peace-inspired behavior naturally follows from our new and fuller experience of reality.
The world needs you to experience your true nature. This will lead others to discover theirs. And yes, the perpetrators of horrific acts are also peace in their essence—a peace they have no contact with. They “know not what they do” because they don’t know who they themselves are. It is being lost in our thoughts and emotional reactions that can lead to greater fear and rage. This blocks awareness of our interconnectedness and the sacredness of all life. This distorted and incomplete awareness leads to indifference, selfishness, violence and cruelty. So do not stray too far into fear and anger because the world needs you to be fulfilled: the fulfillment of experiencing the peace of your true nature.
~ Christopher Papadopoulos
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