Monday, July 31, 2006

The Pursuit of Happiness

FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING JULY 31, 2006
INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
"Individual commitment to a group effort --
that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."
~ Vince Lombardi

"One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade."
~ Chinese Proverb

GROSS DOMESTIC SATISFACTION!
Have you ever considered the global impact of your happiness? Or how your well-being is affected by the state of the world? An organization called the New Economics Foundation recently released a report that indexes the planet's "happiest" nations, and the findings are surprising.

First, understand that the index was compiled based on consumption levels, life expectancy, and satisfaction, not upon national economic wealth indicators like Gross Domestic Product. The happiest place on Earth? The small Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, with an economy built upon agriculture and tourism. Where does the US rank on the list? Number 150 (of 178).

But wait, don't we enjoy a high standard of living and prosperity, with all manner of modern convenience? What gives? Apparently, our level of consumption does not directly relate to our degree of satisfaction. While we're all aware of this wisdom on at least a subconscious level, our society is constantly bombarded by the notion that the more we possess, the more we enjoy life.

But even if high levels of consumption made us happy, would it be worth what we take from future generations? The UK ranks 108th on the "Happy Planet Index," but if worldwide consumption matched the UK's levels, it would take 3.1 Earths to meet the demand! Something is clearly out of balance.

American astronaut Donald Williams once observed, "For those who have seen the Earth from space, and for the hundreds and perhaps thousands more who will, the experience most certainly changes your perspective. The things that we share in our world are far more valuable than those which divide us." What we are sacrificing in our search for material pleasures and economic growth are the human relationships that ultimately provide us the greatest joy and stability.

The pursuit of happiness is a universal right, but it is a privilege we share with everyone else on the planet. By building our relationships, both personal and global, we may yet reach a state of "civilization."

posted by The Office Grapevine at 8:38 AM 0 comments  

Monday, July 24, 2006

Learning to Fly!

FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING JULY 24, 2006

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
"I compensate for big risks by always doing
my homework and being well-prepared. I can take
on larger risks by reducing the overall risk."
~ Donna E. Shalala

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

There is a very amusing but very telling commercial on television these days. If you haven’t seen it, try to guess what it might be promoting...

The scene is set in a small Italian village, with excited townsfolk lined up on a bridge spanning a wide river. A man stands at the edge of the bridge, with large “wings” constructed of fabric, metal and wood attached and spread wide on his back.

The man jumps, the onlookers gasp, he begins to flap madly, and then soars beautifully over the water. The crowd goes wild, cheering, “He can fly! He can fly!” But one wizened old gentleman in their midst turns to admonish them, “But he can’t swim...”

The next frames show the great innovator crashing into the river, and presumably meeting his demise. It’s no “accident” that this ad is for an insurance company!

Just as we should never fear to push our boundaries or attempt great things, we should also never overlook the possibility of failure. We also shouldn’t remain so focused on our goal that we ignore all other possible outcomes.

Confidence is a critical ingredient of success, but humility is what carries us through to our ultimate goal. The fact that the Titanic sank has been a popular illustration of this principle, “pride before the fall.” Like our friend in the insurance commercial, even Icarus did not consider that the wax in his wings would melt if he came too near the Sun.

The next time you begin a project, consider writing yourself an “insurance policy” before you start. First, visualize the goal and the best way to get there. But then, imagine all the things that might come up along the way that may have an adverse effect on the proceedings.

Finally, imagine the impact that your success may have on you and those around you. What might change or go wrong after the fact?

None of us can predict the future, and we mustn’t avoid greatness for fear of failure. We simply need to be smart in our approach and anticipate problems before they arise. Preparation can prevent a glitch from becoming an all-out debacle. Make sure you pack your floatation device!

posted by The Office Grapevine at 9:29 AM 0 comments  

Monday, July 17, 2006

Englightenment!

FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING JULY 17, 2006

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
"If you take too long in deciding what to do with your life,
you'll find you've done it."
~ George Bernard Shaw

"Before enlightenment - chopping wood, carrying water.
After enlightenment - chopping wood, carrying water."
~ Buddha

FEELING STRESSED?

Oh - the frustration of it all. The first quote for today deals with the importance of having direction - goals - in your life. You know - we've all heard it for years - our life will be happier, more prosperous, more meaningful if we have a plan, know where we're going, and work systematically at getting there.

If you've tried to do that, you've undoubtedly met with a great deal of frustration along the way. It's like the expression "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." No matter how hard you work at your plan, there are those constant interruptions that get in the way, and make it seem so difficult. You are not alone.

As important as the first quote is, think about the second one. A modern paraphrase might go like this: "Before setting and achieving your goals, and having control over your life, your days are filled with trivia, interruptions, hassles, disappointments, family responsibilities, etc. After working your plan and achieving all your dreams and goals, your life is filled with trivia, interruptions, hassles, disappointments, family responsibilities, etc."

Taking control of your life can result in great personal satisfaction, provided you understand it does not bring you to perfection. Intertwined in the desire to achieve peace, success, and enlightenment, there is still plenty of wood to chop and water to carry. The day-to-day responsibilities of life do not disappear. We simply gain the strength to bear them more readily - and with a smile.

So - carry on with your plans and your dreams. They are vital to a great life. Yet remember the words of Jules Renard who said, "There are moments when everything goes well; don't be frightened, it won't last."

(Originally published February 11, 2002)

posted by The Office Grapevine at 10:44 AM 0 comments  

Monday, July 10, 2006

Walk the Talk!

FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING JULY 10, 2006
INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
"If you keep on saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of being a prophet."
~ Isaac Bashevis Singer

PREDICTION VS. PRODUCTION!

If you’re familiar with many “motivational” speakers and writers, you’ve probably heard or read a hundred times that you must make a “declaration.” It seems that without uttering your deepest desires, they will not come to fruition. Want a better job? Then you must declare that it will be so. Want a fitter body? First you must affirm you will have one.
But be aware of the definition of motivation, “the reason one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.” Just stating that something will happen is not enough – you must “act” or “behave” in a very specific fashion to make that dream come true.
Declarations comfort us, enthuse us, and even energize us, but only for a short period of time. After the initial emotional rush of acknowledging our desire to pursue something, our energy wanes, other issues become more pressing, and we lose sight of our goals. Unfortunately, when the outcome we visualized doesn’t happen, we feel disappointed and our self-esteem takes one on the chin.
The vicious circle completes itself when we make our next declaration, recalling previous shortfalls, and losing our enthusiasm even more quickly. We say, “Ah, these affirmations don’t work. Just saying it doesn’t make it true.” EUREKA!
Now you realize that success doesn’t come from motivational “tricks,” but from a profound effort to produce the desired outcome. Of course you must acknowledge (if only to yourself) what you want in this world, or you’ll just drift aimlessly. But be sure to follow through with a solid plan that anticipates plenty of detours.
Want a better job? Declare it will be so, and then start taking courses in that field, find a mentor, polish your resume, and apply for the positions for which you have qualified yourself. Want a fitter body? First affirm that you will have one, and then sign up for a fitness club membership, actually go to the club regularly, stock your shelves with healthy food, and eat less of it.
So, become a prophet of positivity! Go ahead, predict your future success! But make sure your prophecy is self-fulfilled!

posted by The Office Grapevine at 9:17 PM 0 comments  

Monday, July 03, 2006

Chairman of the Bored!

FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING JULY 3, 2006


INSPIRATION FOR TODAY:
"Millions long for immortality who do not know what
to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon."
~ Susan Ertz, writer (1894-1985)


THE FRENCH CALL IT "ENNUI"!

Can you remember the last time you were bored? It’s kind of hard to pull off these days, what with DVD players in our mini-vans, BlackBerries in our pockets, iPods clipped to our waists, and cell phones that surf the net, take photographs, and download the latest sports scores. There are vast numbers of quick and easy diversions available to us at almost any time in almost any place.


You’d think that these modern marvels would be welcome harbingers of the Death of Boredom. But does the quantity of the time we devote to such pursuits measure up in quality? In some cases, the argument could be made that doing nothing is indeed better than doing something, and that boredom may not be the adversary we’ve all been led to believe it is.


Indeed, boredom is a kind of a dare unto itself. To quote journalist Michael Crowley, “It sets you up on a date with yourself and challenges you to find some chemistry.” Do you feel uncomfortable and awkward during those times when all is quiet and there is no opportunity to bombard yourself with the gadgets of work and of play? Can you make sense of the voice(s) in your head, or do you even want to hear it?


Even Superman had to retreat to his Fortress of Solitude once in awhile! If you had time, just a little of it, to be alone and quiet, without any distractions, what do you think your mind would finally formulate? You don’t have to be a Luddite to appreciate the spiritual freedom you can feel when you escape from all of life’s electronic input.


Fear of boredom may indicate a fear of oneself. Take some time to confront that anxiety. Sit down on the front porch, back deck, beach, wherever, and be quiet – very, very quiet. You may just hear your imagination calling you – listen!


ENJOY YOUR INDEPENDENCE DAY!

posted by The Office Grapevine at 9:49 AM 0 comments