Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Religion Reminds Us to Love

“In choosing your god, you choose your way of looking at the universe. There are plenty of Gods. Choose yours. The god you worship is the god you deserve."

Joseph Campbell



Of course, with a nod to my friend David and perhaps other readers, perhaps Mr. Campbell includes worshiping no God? I suppose that introducing anything about religion into this dialogue is high risk...but then I teach taking risks as a tool for living an extraordinary life so here goes!

Long-time friend, mentor and business partner Dr. Mark Albion recently shared that recent events in his life “shows me how lost we are right now as a people, and how much we need something to grab on to, to believe in, to help us get centered when we have lost our way. So, what's the role of religion?

“Religion helps us reconnect with the unseen order of things. Religion should help us feel better, for when we feel better, we do good. Any ‘good’ religion should speak across time to everyone, no matter your world view. The best religion? Kindness. Religion reminds us to love.”

Mark’s words caused me to reflect and reconsider some decisions I’d made about religion. How about you?

With love and respect,

Robert

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

What Are Your Priorities?

“...we continue to spend fortunes on an stupefying array of distractions supposedly designed to make us happier than Liz Taylor at a wedding: Cosmetics that contain everything from the placenta of unborn goats to a pound of pig fat mixed with volcanic ash and “19 secret ingredients from the rain forest”; diet products to remove mountains of blubber gained by stuffing ourselves because we are so damn miserable, and miserable because we are so horribly fat; cosmetic surgery in every place from facial to other cheeks; mind-numbing cruises to paradise; luxury boats that never leave their luxury marinas; hard drugs; soft drugs; alcohol; anti-depressants; uppers; downers; frenetic gambling to hit the big time; jewelry that is too expensive to wear; image marriages destined to last all of six months; mink-lined designer toilet seats; lottery tickets; tobacco products we know w! ill kill us; and billions of tons of electronic and plastic and toxic junk that add nothing to our lives and create only clutter, pollution and landfill.”

from “Living an Extraordinary Life” by Robert White


As always, I don’t comment on quotes from my book. While I’m capable of being self-indulgent, I don’t do so consciously!

With love and respect,

Robert

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

What Do YOU Have To Say?

“Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.”

Barbara Kingsolver



It could be argued that too many people are saying too many words given the proliferation of pundits and “experts” in the media, politicians at all levels and the guys on the barstool at your favorite watering hole.

I’ll argue the opposite. More of us average folks need to become more clear about what we need to communicate to be our authentic selves...and DO IT.

How’s that for a Wednesday challenge?

Robert

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Connecting with Principle--A Great Decision Making Tool

“I am for a government rigorously frugal and simple. Were we directed from Washington when to sow, when to reap, we should soon want bread.”

Thomas Jefferson



I’ve shared previously that in selecting these quotes for “An Extraordinary Minute” I’m confronted with the reality that many of them are from “dead white guys.” Perhaps you’ve noticed that I’ve worked to broaden my offering to include more diversity of gender, age, ethnicity and faith.

Here in America we have embarked on changes in economic, social and governance policy that are truly massive in scope and impact. It truly boggles the mind.
My counsel when “boggled” ... reconnect with timeless principles, pay attention to your “common sense” and observe the lessons of history.

Jefferson might be on to something here.

With love and respect,

Robert

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Trust or Be Wary: It's a Choice

"From a pragmatic point of view, the difference between living against a background of foreigness (an indifferent Universe) and one of intimacy (a benevolent Universe) means the difference between a general habit of wariness and one of trust."

William James, “Pluralistic Universe”


These words deserve careful examination and reflection. Wouldn’t you rather live a life of trust rather than one of wariness? When I speak with friends recently, there is an acknowledgement that we increasingly live in a world where we must be “on guard,” turning up and preparing our senses for the next relationship or business deal or investment to go wrong.

For me, all of this argues for consciously choosing our environment—work, friends, politics, even family—carefully. All too often we fall into an unconscious series of choices about who and what is in our personal environment that put a positive, trusting energetic state at risk; we make choices that serve to gradually erode our trust and increase our anxiety and stress.

Isn’t it time for Spring cleaning?

With love and respect,

Robert