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The Fifth Agreement

I am a fan of Don Miguel Ruiz.  We have followed the philosophy in his “Four Agreements” for many years.  Today as a new year begins, it seems fitting to recommend his next book, The Fifth Agreement.  The concept, according to Ruiz and his son Jose, is that everything we do is based on agreements we have made — agreements with ourselves, with other people, with God, and with life. But the most important agreements are the ones we make with ourselves. With these agreements we tell ourselves who we are, how to behave, what is possible, what is impossible.  His idea of agreements corresponds to my notion of beliefs.  Now he is adding an agreement that is dear to my heart.  As an advocate of deep listening, this fifth agreement is right down my alley of beliefs.   I am copying words written in the advertising promotion, which is a quick and easy way to review all five: Read more...

Magic Circle: A Design for Meetings

Consider the circle.  That shape has been a universal symbol for God.  It suggests the infinite, never-ending inclusion of all.  Many years ago, I learned to deliver a curriculum, “Magic Circle”, to schools. It was designed by Dr. Valo Palomares and his ex-wife, Geraldine.  The structured circle sessions helped children feel at home in the affective domain–the world of feelings.  From that training in Magic Circle and my own doctoral dissertation (an experiment about emotions and our language of origin), I came to value the use of a circle as a place for groups to participate.  My Women’s Wisdom group always sits in a circle.  Each gets a fair share of the time, there are no “put-downs” and we listen to each other respectfully.  So, I recommend that you hold meetings in the circle, much like the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.  There is a chance we can create Camelot again.  It works in families, in churches, and in business meetings. Read more...

INTERNAL SILOS AND TURF WARS

INTERNAL SILOS?
These ideas are forming after studying the book by Patrick Lencioni, “Silos, Politics, and Turf Wars”.

FOUR INTERNAL SILOS THAT OPERATE LIKE EXTERNAL SILOS AND ONE SILO OF HOPE:

I.  The SURVIVAL silo
Reptilian brain
Habit and tradition
Fear and victimization Read more...

80 YEAR OLDS GOING GREEN

I am so excited!  This morning, I got our Civic Hybrid up to 40.1 mpg.  And, I did it with my right foot.  Just easing up on the gas pedal has brought us up from 38.0 mpg to 40.1.  That’s right!  The right foot is the culprit and the hero.  Both Paul and I have been deliberately driving slightly below the speed limit, not accelerating on hills or when the light turns green.  Just easy does it and we made a 2 mpg improvement.  Turns out to be a lot of fun, watching the display that shows when we are getting 100 mpg or less, watching it change as we guide the gas pedal.  I drove 55 mph this morning and felt very good about it.  The car ahead of me, also driving 55, was a Prius.  We were being passed by pickups and suburbans, but I just drove on and enjoyed the ride.  Turns out to be a beautiful day. Read more...