Growing your Environmentalism, Spirituality, and more
Page 129 - We all have potential to be and do more. Those in the human potential movement are prone to say something like... "You can be anything you want to be." That, of course, is ridiculous. I've never been able to dunk a basketball, and will never be able to do that. Can't get myself pregnant either. But, we are born with certain talents, gifts, strengths, and proclivities. Our genetic structure determines much of who we are, but as we now know from the field of epigenetics, the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself, that change is possible. Life circumstances and conditions are also critical. I don't understand the black experience. My kids don't understand what it was like growing up during the 1960's any more than do I understand what it was like for my parents during the Great Depression. When I'm assessing someone during my Executive Coaching, I administer four tools: The Strengthsfinder from Gallup, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the DiSC, and the 16pf Personality Profile. Everyone is different. What do you know! I've administered hundreds of such assessments, and everyone is different from everyone else - and everyone has strengths, temperament, behavior and personality. Potentials that can be trained or ignored.
Page 130 - The list of intelligences. Some of us are better at some stuff than are others. There is a gentleman that lives across the road from our Shack in the Woods. He is rough and unsophisticated in many ways, but he is a mechanical genius. I don't think you would find Bob in an art museum, but what he can do with a machine is incredible. My oldest grandchild has musical talent. He can pretty much hear it, and then play it on a variety of instruments. You get the idea. What are your intelligences? You have them, and to the extent that you celebrate them and build your life around them you will find great joy in doing who you are. As I mention, Leadership Intelligence is a strong interest of mine and has been ever since I was freshman class president in high school. As the oldest of four children, with a father that was a powerful pastor in a Christian church, I had a great role model. But, it has taken years of experience and study to become a little expert in the big field of Leadership. To do so, I had to give up watching sports on TV. Knowing who you are gifted to be means saying NO to other things. If you want to be a master and some, you have to give up being a jack of all trades.
Page 131 - Environmental Intelligence and Spiritual Intelligence. As I said at the outset, I'm not an Environmental Scientist, but I am a Behavioral Scientist. This book and the resources I will add to it along the way is one effort I am making to become more environmentally intelligent. As much as I learn, I can still hear my father saying, "Andy, the more you know, the more you know you don't know." For example, James Lovelock, the founder of Gaia Theory, is 101 years old as I write. His 2006 book, which I am currently reading, was therefore written when he was 87. Think of that. What an enormous mind he has, and what a heart for Mother Earth. I am working at my competencies in understanding and working with the environment, and shall continue for all the days of my life. I want to know more!
Page 132 - The Butterfly Effect comes from the field of Chaos Theory and refers to the phenomenon whereby a minute localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere. I first learned about the Butterfly Effect when studying system theory, a field of study that distinguishes Marriage and Family Therapy from other fields of psychotherapy. Today, I really get it. Gaia is a giant system that runs 100 miles below the earth's surface, and 100 miles up into the atmosphere. One thing leads to another, to another, an on and on she goes. Metaphorically, when the butterfly flaps it wings it sets in motion a change that eventually results in a tornado. Small events can manifest into larger events.
Page 132 - Spiritual Intelligence. However, when it comes to Spiritual Intelligence, I do have some expertise. Let me direct you Cindy Wigglesworth's book, SQ21: the 21 skills of spiritual intelligence. In fact if you go to Amazon and look it up you will find my review among the top few. I found her material online, contacted her as I am inclined to do with authors that resonate with me, and became certified in the the administration of her self-assessment tool, the SQ21. If you want to work on your spiritual intelligence, take a look at her material. You can go here to learn more. https://deepchange.com/resources. Of course, every religious tradition has sufficient within it whatever is needed to grow spiritually. But remember again, every religion begins elitist and ends egalitarian. If you think your way is the only right way, you need to OPEN UP to all the different paths available for the spiritual traveler. The goal, remember, is enlightenment - and enlightenment doesn't care how you get there.
Page 133 - Greater communion and greater Reverence for all of Life. That's the goal. That's the noble purpose, the "Why?" Seek greater communion with one and all, and cultivate Reverence for Life - all of it - physical and metaphysical.