Throughout the world, these challenging times have ignited a wildfire of fear that is causing flailing in many directions trying to quell the fear and “make something happen”.
This worldwide course correction has been gaining momentum over the past 20 years. As the World Trade Center buildings collapsed, almost 11 years ago, our deepest beliefs and structures around power, money, safety and security collapsed with them. Even though our illusions that power, prosperity, safety or security come from some one, some thing and/or some place outside ourselves died that day, our dreams didn’t unless we allowed them to dissolve into fear. While fear, an acronym for “false evidence appearing real”, feels real, it’s a lie. Only the future can be swallowed in fear. Each time fear grabs you, ask “is everything OK now?” The answer is always yes.
Even though greed, consumption and debt have eroded the foundations of the U.S. and the world, destruction is the fuel for transformation. A phoenix rising from the ashes brings the promise and opportunity for us to create more balanced, connected, sustainable communities, economies within the world. What an amazing possibility to use the vast creativity within us to create this new world!
Our individual lives are a microcosm of what is going on in the world. Actual effects of the economic downturn as well as the fears of what might happen are affecting many of us. Possibilities abound when things are or appear to be falling apart. We are being called to increase our faith and expand our awareness to gain clarity about the life and world we desire to create.
Where do we start? In our own backyard. as our lives are the only ones we can change. And, as each of our lives change, those around us are changed ultimately generating change in the world. Margaret Mead’s famous quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has,” says it all.
Creating a Foundation That Supports Who You Are and Are Becoming
Clarify and define
Your values are key to generating a life of ease, joy and peace. Values reflect your deepest desires thereby providing guidelines for living your life and managing your business. Not only clarifying but also defining your values is paramount to providing the best guidance and support for your life and business.
For many years, companies have had their values hanging framed in their reception areas where owners and employees walk quickly by each day. Few companies actually use those values as a key part of their business plans to guide personal and business decisions, support marketing and customer service behaviors, and inform relationships, policies and working environment. Hence, the economic meltdown of recent years.
The same is true for most people. Yes, we have values that we live by – many that were embedded during childhood from parents, churches, and teachers. I was well into my 40’s before I really looked at my values to see if they still applied to the adult I had become. And, even though some of the values’ names were the same, my definitions for them had changed dramatically and continue to change as I grow.
Check in with yourself as you name and define each value, asking “Truth, does this fully support my life at this time?” Feel the lightness or heaviness in your body. If you feel lighter, that is truth; feeling heavier reflects a lie.
Integrate
An Arizona hospital that wrote their values and mission statement almost 20 years ago, still have them prominently placed throughout each location. The first agenda item at high-level weekly staff meetings is sharing how they have lived those values. A great integration example!
Values are the compass for our lives/businesses. Periodic reviews identify how things are going and what course corrections are needed. Useful insights can be gained by asking questions like: “Which values am I living?” “Which values am I not living?” “How often am I using my values as a compass?” “What do I do the rest of the time?” “What gets in the way?”.
Stress, which undermines mental, physical and spiritual health, indicates that you are disconnected from your values. Explore the stresses in your life, noticing how they affect you and others. Are you using your values to relate to your stress? What adjustments are needed?
Benefits
Allowing your values to inform your actions/decisions reduces stress while increasing vitality, creativity, perspective, flexibility and well being. Continuing to ask which choice feels lighter (truth), which feels heavier (lie), ensures you will follow your truth for your life while releasing fears that arise. How does it get any better than that?
As we’ve seen, especially over the past decade, security, power, prosperity and safety are only possible through an internal connection with our light - the God/Goddess/Spirit – however each of us defines that deepest of connections. Living from our knowing creates space, freedom and a sense of internal security that is priceless and desperately needed as we create this new world full of ease, joy and peace. What else is possible?