What inspires you? Some people are inspired by moments of triumphant excellence. The recognition of receiving a major award. The thrill of winning a significant contest. The overwhelming beauty of creating an artistic, or scientific, or political, masterpiece. We see ourselves in the lives of the people we admire, we think about what we would say in our acceptance speeches or how it would feel to hoist the trophy, and we are inspired to continue working. Some people are inspired... Read more
It is easy for me to assume that life has always been the way I know it now. I flip a switch and the room is filled with light. With a few clicks, I have access to a vast variety of information and people. There is very little in my day to remind me of how fragile and and precious our path has been. It is easy not to realize the tremendous debt of gratitude I owe to the people... Read more
All leaders focus on something. There are leaders who pay attention to details, examining the smallest factors that might possibly affect their performance and the performance of their teams. There are leaders who only see the big picture, visionaries who paint with broad strokes and set sail for the far horizon. There are leaders who focus on making a difference in the world around them, leaders who focus on developing the people they lead, and leaders who focus on themselves... Read more
I work with a spiritual director because I cannot appreciate everything on my own. For a long time, I stayed in the shallows of my spiritual life. I accepted what I had been taught, even when it did not fit very well with my own experiences of spiritual depth. I was motivated to find and accept the right answers, even when those answers did not satisfy my own longings for spiritual truth. I saw my self as a physical person... Read more
I open my eyes at least once every day. Sometimes it happens over time, and things come into focus gradually. If I start moving before my eyes are really open I can bump into things, which encourages me to pay closer attention. Sometimes I open my eyes immediately. One moment I am asleep and the next I am wide awake. Even if I would like to, I am not going back to sleep. My eyes are staying open. Sometimes I... Read more
It began, like all movements, with a vision. It has spread through social media and began to shape the perception of the more traditional news sources. It even changes the way wine lovers understand craft brewing. Once each month a group of thirsty pilgrims visits a craft brewery in Southern California. Together we enjoy great conversation and great brews. We tell each other our stories, and inspire each other. We learn about the traditions and practicalities of brewing well. Each... Read more
Leadership is about understanding Why. We tend to think that leaders can tell us Where we are going or How to get there. Some of them are very good at appreciating Who can help us move toward our goals, or When is the right time to make changes. We tend not to recognize the essential motivating power of Why. Why takes time, and we often get caught up in the urgency of When or How. When you help me understand... Read more
I was talking with someone recently about something very painful and very difficult they had experienced. They paused as they came to a particularly challenging moment in the story and said to me, “Saying it out loud makes it more real.” We depend on our stories. We believe the stories we tell ourselves; we understand and take control of our lives and the world around us through our stories. The people closest to us, who we trust the most, are... Read more
A Brief Review of Journey to the Heart: Christian Contemplation Through the Centuries Edited by Kim Nataraja and including contributions by Lawrence Freeman OSB, Esther de Waal, Kallistos Ware, Shirley du Boulay, Andrew Louth, and others. Paperback: Orbis Books, 2011. Buy now: [ Amazon ] Reviewed by Greg Richardson. Journey to the Heart is a solid, substantial book that presents a comprehensive and varied story. The chapters grow out of talks given over four years for a course that traced both the diversity and... Read more
I spend a lot of time face to face with people. Sometimes it is working with someone as a spiritual director or a leadership coach. Sometimes is is over breakfast, or coffee, or a great craft brew. Sometimes it is on a retreat, in a meeting, or in church. Sometimes it is in person, and sometimes it is over Skype or FaceTime. Being face to face with someone means a great deal. I pay attention, I look into their eyes;... Read more
Strategic Monk
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