Distinguishing between what is real and what is not is always a challenging exercise. Most of us can remember sights, sounds and feelings that we have had in the past (nostalgia can be a beautiful feeling!), and almost all of us have had dreams. Yet how can we tell the difference between the memory or the dream and the real world around us?
What if you were to dream, and in that dream you were to pick a flower, and when you awoke that flower lay across your chest?
Modern science is getting better at modelling our profound experiences. If you stimulate our serotonin system (our neurotransmitter usually associated with feeling ‘good’) in a particular way, you can induce a deeply powerful mystical experience in some people, to such an extent that two months later most of them still regard it as one of the most spiritually significant experiences in their lives.
Is that God working through the magic mushrooms?
Does God work through hypnosis, mass hysteria and disindividuation? Or is that humanity playing God?
Mathematics can be used in many ways, one of the more creative being to show that your odds for having a successful relationship increase if you get with at least 12 people!
While some of my friends might continue to be fixated (and not without cause) on finding that one right person and settling down to the happily-ever-after life, it would seem that such an approach is not necessarily as effective overall.
There are many relationship models. I’m currently playing with a 3-factor model, based around the labels of Mind, Body and Spirit, within the context that I give the shorthand of Love.
- Mind
Parties need to share attitudes, interests and a framework through which greater appreciation can be developed. Attitudes should not be identical, lest one party be redundant; nor should interests, lest they lose their sense of identity; though closer frameworks of discussion can prove valuable.
- Body
Couples should be physically attracted, and have shared lifestyle and activities. Physical attraction is an essential component for a great relationship; shared lifestyle and activities give both the context to relate and share life experiences, and indicate shared values and interests. Shared lifestyle would include geography and living conditions; Shared activities would include travelling and typical time priorities.
- Spirit
Currently, I would identify three elements to spiritual connection: Life purpose, Spirituality and religion, and Connection. A shared sense of life purpose gives couples a powerful bond of understanding and conduct, and includes not just our seldom known external goals and objectives, but also compatibility between our view on the nature of life itself. Spirituality focuses more on more practical implementations of that world view, such as religious affiliations and practices. Connection refers to a deep sense of understanding and appreciation for the other person, a state of being where some individuals sense how another is thinking or feeling in a given moment, and perhaps where two people feel that they have been guided to be together.
- Love
Love is the framework within which great relationships is possible. This includes concepts like a shared vision for the future, growth-motivated individuals who are letting go of their past, motivated to support and nurture each other, and giving unconditional love.
Thank you, Lyma, for your inspiration.
Family folklore says that one of my aunts profited so much out of buying a Tony Robbins CD set by sello it on eBay for more than she’d paid for it on late night TV, not ever having listened past the first day…
The Secret is a cool movie… it’s all about the law of attraction and spiritual wealth and abundance, like so many others have spoken about in the past. I attracted a copy of the DVD last week – really, a friend just gave it to me as I sat in a cafe in the early morning – and I have enjoyed watching this documentary-statement of faith that is calling itself a movie.
When you have the opportunity, and you feel so called, do have a look… it’s interesting and could be valuable for you. Their website could also have some interesting material.
I felt it also opportune to reflect upon Deepak’s 7 Laws of Spiritual Success:
- Pure potentiality
- Giving
- Cause and effect
- Least effort
- Intention and desire
- Detachment
- Dharma/ purpose in life
Whatever they might mean to you…
So often we have the lessons that we most need right in front of us… One of my family profited out of buying a Tony Robbins CD set by selling it on eBay for more than she’d paid for it on late night TV, not ever having listened past the first day… Yet she still resents having bought it!
The Secret is a cool movie… it’s all about the law of attraction and spiritual wealth and abundance, like so many others have spoken about in the past. I attracted a copy of the DVD last week – really, a friend just gave it to me as I sat in a cafe in the early morning – and I have enjoyed watching this documentary-statement of faith (or infomercial) that is calling itself a movie.
When you have the opportunity, and you feel so called, do have a look… it’s interesting and could be valuable for you. Their website could also have some interesting material.
I felt it also opportune to reflect upon Deepak’s 7 Laws of Spiritual Success:
- Pure potentiality
- Giving
- Cause and effect
- Least effort
- Intention and desire
- Detachment
- Dharma/ purpose in life
On Tuesday evening I had the privilege of seeing Queensland’s Premier speak on his vision for my home state. It was inspiring and thought provoking, and reminded me of why he has managed to survive for so long.
Amongst many interesting comments was the following on the topic of groups (I think it is quoted quite closely): “The strength, calibre and character of the people determines the quality of the outcomes.” With the State election called earlier that day this sentiment takes on even greater meaning…
After listening to Queensland’s Premier spend a substantial portion of his microphone time talking about the importance of personal responsibility, I am left amazed at the ideological convergence of our political parties.
He made a number of interesting assertions and suggestions:
- Queensland is likely to enjoyed continued massive population growth, placing pressure in infrastructure (health, education and the environment) and our methods of value creation.
- Queensland should strive to become a regional hub for aviation, biotechnology and sustainable development.
- We are particularly well-placed to develop and then export technology in clean coal production and processing.
- China and India will compete with us directly in a range of industries. We need to lift our place in the value chain through innovation. Numeracy and literacy are necessary, but we also need innovation.
- We should provide infrastructure and policies that support personal responsibility. In this context, on the health front we have dealt with smoking well and the next target needs to be obesity.
- Building standards will need to change to allow for the reduced frequency but increased intensity of rainfall.
The Brisbane Institute is led by Ray Weekes, an inspiring leader and insightful speaker. Their efforts to build a community of thinkers in Brisbane town is remarkable.
Gotta love it when a bank gets behind building entrepreneurs for the next generation… that’s the only way that jobs get created, and the only way that our society really grows sustainably! Great work Postbank/ ING!!!
- Here… is a great explanation of what “Web 2.0″ actually is
- And just imagine a premium public restroom – what?? Not in America, but in Paris… the whole idea is to provide a great environment and show off the products of the sponsor… call it tryvertising if you like. Great work!
- Wiki is cool – very cool. It’s such an integral part of the modern internet that they have their own conferences… of particular interest is how internal wiki’s can work as rich knowledge base systems, already in use at Intel.
- I also like this conversation with Seth Godin.
Gotta love it when a bank gets behind building entrepreneurs for the next generation… that’s the only way that jobs get created, and the only way that our society really grows sustainably! Great work Postbank/ ING!!!
- In case you’ve been looking for an explanation of Web 2.0, here it is…
- And just imagine a premium public restroom – what?? Not in America, but in Paris… the whole idea is to provide a great environment and show off the products of the sponsor… call it tryvertising if you like. Great work!
- Wiki is cool – very cool. It’s such an integral part of the modern internet that they have their own conferences… of particular interest is how internal wiki’s can work as rich knowledge base systems, already in use at Intel.
- I also like this conversation with Seth Godin.
As I watch the National Press Club address by Julie Bishop, I am inspired with her launch of National Science week.
Any individual, organisation or nation relies upon a limited array of key assets and competencies to build and maintain its competitive advantage. Like a business as explained by John Kay, these typically take the form of Architecture, Reputation, Innovation and Strategic Assets. I would add to these the gift of foresight gained through close connection and understanding of the environment. An individual needs to be connected, to build their personal branding and reputation, to be flexible and innovative and ready to learn, and may also possess a range of strategic assets that might yield short-term superordinary results. Likewise for nations.
Individual teachers inspire individual students. Great teachers – particularly those who are passionate and uplifting – impact directly upon the lives of thousands and indirectly upon millions, and are one of the most crucial predictors of outstanding outcomes. I’m not sure whether great teachers are necessary and they are certainly not sufficient for excellence in their students, but almost every great mind that I’ve come across has had at least one and often more profoundly powerful influencers in their life.
Science is one of the few areas where Australia has a history of superior performance (we have the highest per-capita rate of Nobel Prize Laureattes). How can we use that?
Excellence is a challenge… yet it is the only way for us to move forward.
News Corporation bought Intermix Media, the parent company of Myspace.com for $580m nine months ago as their attempt to not lose their lead in news in the modern era. While there were many who criticised at the time, Google has agreed to pay $900m to advertise on that site and others in the News Corp stable. Now, $320m isn’t bad for nine month’s work…
Of course this relies upon Myspace.com continuing to meet traffic targets… which in turn is continguent upon Digg and others not hijacking this Web 2.0 world…
As I sat in Batavia, the most awesome coffee shop in Southbank, on Sunday afternoon, I snapped this scene that looks strangely familiar… I don’t know the girl, or the ‘tree’ that she was speaking with a few minutes before.
