Awareness Revisited
Monday evening was the last night for a class I teach in the School of Adult Learning titled Servant-Leadership in Practice. As we were synthesizing the ideas discussed throughout the course, a student mentioned (perhaps as a way to schmooze the instructor, although it did seem genuine) how much they enjoyed the recent post on awareness and the Greenleaf quote.
I pointed out that, as he often does, frequent contributor Don Frick added a comment expanding on my post. Don talked about how most people think of awareness as ego awareness, as OUR place in the environment. Of course Greenleaf had a much different idea; an idea that awareness is the "acceptance of What Is, in all its booming richness and paradox."
A great discussion of awareness followed. One student mentioned that if they received a call that their spouse, heaven forbid, was suddenly missing that they would have no idea what to tell the police their spouse was wearing that day! That was followed-up with a discussion about our own children as well.
Consequently there are now 15 students and a professor that have Greenleaf to thank for opening our hearts and minds to becoming more aware. It is very easy to "substitute routine for awareness." We must find ways to awaken our inner spirits and become more aware. For those that are interested in the topic, I recommend this book.
One final thought: What is your spouse/children/those you love wearing today? What were the two or three big stories on the front page of the paper you read this morning? Are you slipping all too often into routine?
I pointed out that, as he often does, frequent contributor Don Frick added a comment expanding on my post. Don talked about how most people think of awareness as ego awareness, as OUR place in the environment. Of course Greenleaf had a much different idea; an idea that awareness is the "acceptance of What Is, in all its booming richness and paradox."
A great discussion of awareness followed. One student mentioned that if they received a call that their spouse, heaven forbid, was suddenly missing that they would have no idea what to tell the police their spouse was wearing that day! That was followed-up with a discussion about our own children as well.
Consequently there are now 15 students and a professor that have Greenleaf to thank for opening our hearts and minds to becoming more aware. It is very easy to "substitute routine for awareness." We must find ways to awaken our inner spirits and become more aware. For those that are interested in the topic, I recommend this book.
One final thought: What is your spouse/children/those you love wearing today? What were the two or three big stories on the front page of the paper you read this morning? Are you slipping all too often into routine?
<< Home