Life / Work

Accessing Your Inner Wisdom

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Too many people read a title like this and automatically dismiss it as “woo-woo” stuff – as if only gurus and mystics have “inner wisdom” or intuition.

The reality is that we were all born intuitive. Over time and environmental conditioning, we lose the ability to “hear” this little voice inside us. But, it is still there. Perhaps buried under all of the “shoulds” that society, in general, and our parents/families, in particular, have taught us, but still in us and waiting to accessed.

Our intuition is our connection to the wisdom of the Universe. In The Alchemist, Paolo Coelho describes it:

“Intuition is a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal ...

Part of the discussion about the current global circumstances of economic downturn, global warming, environmental degradation and living a more ecologically sustainable existence, is that it presents an opportunity for change. Some commentators point to the failure of capitalism and the importance of strengthening the quality of our institutions and systems that are assessed to have failed so badly. Others put forward a view of the need to develop different values, better leadership and the imperative for higher quality thinking.

Every crisis brings an opportunity for learning and constructive change. However, the commentary on improving global circumstances may be missing a crucial point that is essential to deep positive change. Without this change, our efforts in ...

Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (3 May 1469 – 21 June 1527) was an Italian historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher, humanist and writer based in Florence during the Renaissance. Machiavelli was born in a very dangerous and crazy time; people, cities and governments were constantly at war and alliances continually shifted without warning

Machiavelli became famous when he wrote a book giving political advice. The saying “the ends justify the means” would be a good description of Machiavelli’s beliefs. He believed that violence and force can and must be used to stabilize power and to convince others. If a ruler could be replaced by another strong person, it was necessary and right to eliminate the person who could someday threaten the ruler. This thinking ...

Don't Toss The Old Magazines!

So, you decide you're in the mood to de-clutter your place, and the first thing you notice is that old pile of magazines over in the corner. Then you wonder....what do I need these things for? I'll tell you. Before you bundle them up and toss them in the dumpster, think again. Go through them as you are sitting and watching TV and tear out the images that grab your attention. You can tear out images, sayings, letters, etc. Put them in a folder, shoebox or drawer and use them to create a collage greeting card. I know what you're thinking, when do I have time to create a collage? It is called making time to sit and be in the moment. Making time for creativity in your life will lower your blood pressure, calm your anxiety and bring a smile ...

Mr. Pearson was the oddest of substitute teachers. Gossip had it that he was a brilliant professor who had left one of the University of California campuses to pursue some unspecified research. Several times a year he appeared out of the blue to teach a History, English, Math, or Chemistry class, and once or twice he had even substituted for Mrs. Gunbacher in German.
Today he appeared in Phoebe's history class. Mr. Teasdale had the flu but was expected back on Monday. As Mr. Pearson was, by his own admission, not especially interested in the subject the class was studying--the economics of Holland during the guild period--he opened the hour by posing a question.
"What is sanity?" Mr. Pearson asked.
After the requisite snickering and rib-jabbing, ...

"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor.... Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

Are you feeling like it’s time to recreate or reinvent yourself, make a career transition due to:
You’re not alone. Recent research in career development shows that people change jobs, and even careers, as much as 7 to 10 times in their working life. I’ve done it myself, with ...

You and a colleague, Harry are up for a promotion. You know you are the better person for the job, but Harry got the position. He’s pompous, arrogant and doesn’t have the leadership skills that inspire you to generate, well, anything. You scratch your head in disbelief that he was chosen over you.

Part of you, perhaps wants to sabotage Harry’s efforts and do whatever you can to expose him for the inadequate, incompetent individual that you see him to be; however, that goes against your integrity, and you may end up looking bad and feeling worse in the end.

For some reason, even though the whole office knows of Harry’s incompetence, no one seems to take action. He’s that one rotten apple that spoils the whole barrel.

There are a lot of Harry’s ...

"I think creativity is spiritual. I absolutely believe that."
– F. Murray Abraham, Best Actor Oscar award winner in the movie, Amadeus

In the world of work and business, creativity is a highly valued phenomenon in any career, job and work setting. It is so important that it raises key questions: Where does creativity come from and can it be learned and developed? Is it a natural gift for some and a learned skill for others? Is it a function of our brain or of our mind? How can we access and productively use it?

Aristotle and Plato argued that our brain is a physical thinking mechanism and that our mind is seated in our soul, our innermost being. Given that our soul is joined with the greater spiritual intelligence of Spirit (Universe, One Mind, ...

We usually find that during the happiest times of our lives, the word “spiritual” is perhaps the only word that truly captures those moments. It is at the core of what elevates us as human beings. To then say that spirituality has no role in our businesses, our economy, our organizations, our jobs – all key elements of our human work experience – despite the central role it plays in all other aspects of our lives, is irrational. The question isn’t if spirituality plays a role in our business and professional lives, but what role it plays.

The most basic evidence for the spiritual realities in the workplace comes from the idea of consumer confidence, a fairly simple idea of economics. This refers to the confidence a consumer has in the security of their job, the stability ...