The Dogs That Bark

Have you ever walked down the road in your neighbourhood, especially as a child, and pass a neighbour's house when all of a sudden, GRRRGH!  ...a dog starts growling and barking at you from behind the fence?

I can remember the feeling that came over me:  I felt insecure, afraid and vulnerable.  I experienced anger because how could this animal do this to me - how could my confidence and self-sufficiency be destroyed in such a brief moment?

As I grew older I learned that the barking dog is really not that scary.  I could easily recognise the true level of danger and that, in fact, I am the boss in the situation.  Fear, along with the dog, flees with its tail between its legs in that moment of authority.  I can recognise my capacity to overcome the situation because I know who I am and that I have nothing to fear.

I still have the same emotional reaction in certain circumstances today.  Recently I attended an event where I was one of the younger participants playing a leadership role.  After an evening where I made a valued contribution I was, ever so politely, reminded by an older participant that perhaps I need some more experience before I actually attempt to participate in the way that I have.  WOOF!

Really?!

In an instant I wanted to react and cower because of my perceived inexperience pointed out to me.  ...Perceived; perception; reality.  What was the reality in the situation?  The reality was that even though I did not have the grey hair or funny glasses perched on my nose I was more than sufficiently qualified to contribute.  DOWN BOY!

I can therefore choose to respond, not react: I know who I am and I know how I got here.  As I grow I will have even more to contribute - I know where I am going.  I am not punching above my weight.  It is about stepping up and recognising my own potential.  It is about giving, authenticity and strength.  It is about living.

I challenge you to recognise the opportunities that life gives you today to choose living and not surviving.  Take authority in the moment and lead.  They are hidden and it takes practice to recognise them and use them.  They come in many different shapes and sizes, people and circumstances.  It is when someone in the office makes another remark about your work; it is that family member that breaks you down; it is when you are ignored or bullied.  The dogs keep barking, don't run away. Recognise your strength and do what is right today.

Awareness Economics

A few times on this blog I have written about the importance of knowing yourself.  Sometimes I feel like I have even been a bit of a stuck record.  

The last few weeks I have however been picking up books, reading highlights from my professional networks and talking with people who have all indicated the same thing: the biggest change that is happening is that we will have to develop the relationship with ourselves if we want to change the world.

This, in other words, is indeed a delicious paradox.  It is juicy and rich in substance: Stop trying to change the world, change yourself if you want to change the world.  ...It is hard enough anyway!

In my previous post I clarified the purpose of the blog and also clarified the two core terms of survive and alive.  I therefore see this blog as a place where the new challenge of the 21st century economic environment, i.e. how much you pay for the food in your grocery store, how expensive your house is and how to take of yourself when you retire or provide for your children in the future, is directly connected with the internal life that we lead.  It becomes economics based on how aware I am.

From personal experience I can attest to the challenges of deep inner change that results in peace.  I believe it is only from this place of peace where the correct desires can be cultivated which results in the kind of behaviour that impacts our economic choices on a global level.

This is hard!  It is hard because of noise.  It is the clacking of keyboards, tweeting, liking, chirping, snapping cacophony that is designed to make us buy, buy, buy that keeps us from facing our fears.  Stop rushing, running speeding and fleeing.  Start sitting, focusing, re-centring and realigning to what is really important.  Do you know what is really important to you?

Do you survive or are you alive?