I am under the impression that we are living bold times. Think of it: differences evolve into polarizations; people work longer hours and more jobs; traffic and cities are more crowded; advertising is in our face, everywhere; the pace of life is accelerating; aggressions are more violent; and even climate events are more dramatic. I think of Times Square in Manhattan as a big urban artistic installation, a crowd-funded expression representing how bold our time has become. The stimuli compete for our attention, and we all learn to figure out bolder ways to call for the attention of others, since we know that otherwise we will go unnoticed with our message or requests. If we communicate in writing, it needs to have a catchy headline, a provoking tweet.
But boldness is not just a cool creative challenges. It also comes at a cost: too much to handle, feelings of being overwhelmed; stress; difficulty to sleep; impatience; lack of concentration; perhaps our bodies also calling for attention by becoming dysfunctional or sick. It can cause a craving for distraction, for vacations, rest, comfort food, alcohol or substances that can help us cope.
There is a catch in this survival strategy, though. Like the ads that promise we will feel really happy when we treat ourselves with the ‘well deserved’ shoes/car/gadget/cruise, it works well for a short time, and as soon as the adrenaline resulting from the distraction is over, we find ourselves back where we were, dissatisfied and unconsciously ready to welcome the next gratification. What a fleeting emotion happiness is! Is that why the Fathers of the Constitution wanted to guarantee the pursuit of happiness as a right, because they knew that we might be perpetually bound to chase that goal?
But are we?
For time immemorial, sages, philosophers, prophets, religious and spiritual leaders have advised us that we can find peace and harmony inside ourselves. That inside us is actually where it starts, not, as we expect it , from the outside, nor in the behaviors of others we wish were different. I imagine that as you read this you might remember a familiar quote validating my observation - be it from Gandhi or your grandmother - that placed this insight in your system. Often, when I ask my business school students five times in a row why they want what they want, they progressively deconstruct the rationale of achieving this or that, getting into deeper levels of consciousness, until with an astonished look they realize that what was behind their reasons were a wish for peace, harmony, well-being, or love.
Certainly, (perhaps as a reaction to all the boldness) there is an increasing interest in spiritual and introspective practices, mindfulness exercises, and activities of all kind that foster a connection with our ‘being’ dimension. The Center for Contemplative Mind and Society created the Tree of Contemplative Practices, displaying the many ways of seeking awareness, communion and connection: through art and creativity, rituals, movement, relationship or stillness. I recently attended an academic conference of management educators, where business school professors from around the world gathered to present and discuss research and exercises to develop the ‘spiritual intelligence’ of the students. Of course, they didn’t phrase it that way, because ‘spirituality’ is frequently mistaken for ‘religion’ and this raises many controversial reactions. Instead these professors offer the students questions and resources to prompt reflection on their values and beliefs, and to scrutinize the anchors of their identity. In creative ways, they invite students to ponder what their purpose is, what difference they want to make, and how they would do it. These questions are embedded in courses of leadership, ethics, sustainability, but also marketing, strategy, organizational development and human resources. Interestingly, the goal is not to lecture or to have students incorporate information with the traditional extrinsic focus of higher education. Here we are looking in the other direction: inside, and the focus is on creating a safe space and a slower pace, where students can get in touch with a wisdom that is to be found inside.
The results are surprising: how little it takes to get to that place of inner understanding, which also is a place of harmony and quietness. The experience may be short-lived but creates a transformational impact, in that students can now recall what they felt and have tools and resources to experience it over and over.
Bold times and this spiritual movement found in grassroots organizations, cities, individuals and professions are definitely connected. Environmentalist Paul Hawken talked about a planetary “immune system” that creates mechanisms to heal and repair what is not working. Spirituality may be our most effective survival strategy, and take humanity to a more evolved stage.
With all the noise around us, it is time to listen to the still, small voice, which we all have, and which already knows all we need to know.
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