The Meaning
BOLIVIA
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I've learned that for the vision of One World, One People to really live in people's hearts and minds, several things need to happen. One way to talk about that is to use the ARC acronym that forms the basis of our seminar approach to creating extraordinary lives:
A — Awareness;
R — Responsibility; and
C — Communication.
Awareness:
Most
people in so-called developed countries live their lives in a blur.
It could be described as the "developed country disease."
People are so caught up in the activities of work, family and leisure,
they seldom really look outside of themselves to others. It's been
my observation that even when people do look at relationships, it's
from the perspective of how those relationships affect themselves.
Perhaps it's one of the most human of traits once basic survival
is handled: our focus on ourselves and what serves the self.
The
paradox is that this focus on the self seems to prevent the very
things we all say we are seeking: happiness, joy, fulfillment and
love.
What
we've learned from Extraordinary People's work with hundreds of thousands of people
is that true growth begins only when people are willing to take
the risk of looking both within and outside of themselves. Most
of the 'major personal problems' people describe can be solved by
simply accepting themselves, ignoring the perceived problems, and
reaching out, beyond their 'stuff', to serve others. One of the
central messages of our seminars is the amazing awareness and results
that come from simply following the instruction to "stop, look,
choose, and do it."
Each
of us is unique, special and a gift to others. We feel a profound
connection to other human beings when we can let go of our ego,
doubts, fears and distractions. The actual condition for most people
is one of being separate. In fact, when people ask me for a short
definition of the One World, One People vision, I suggest they define
for themselves the opposite of separation---that's One World, One
People.
We
experience our separation at many levels:
- a separation between our essential selves
and our image;
- separation from our friends, family and co-workers;
- separation from and denial of our love for
work, from our need for accomplishment and the opportunity to
serve;
- separation from our communities, from diversity,
from people of different ages, skin colors, religious or sexual
practices, from people of different economic levels or lifestyles,
from people with different perspectives;
- separation from the greater world community,
a kind of narrow nationalism where we arrogantly think we are
so different that no one 'outside' could understand and fully
accept us. When this particular separation is amplified, it
even results in feeling superior to others simply because of
our nation of birth.
Really
experiencing the vision of One World, One People, begins with
an awareness of our separation at many levels and entertaining
the possibility that we can heal this separation beginning with
ourselves, then reaching out to the other people in our lives.
At
any given moment, our planet has 15-20 shooting wars. We continue
to allow a condition where over 30,000 people, many of them children,
die each day of hunger related illness, even though we have plenty
of food right now to feed everyone. We continue to foul our environment
in an unsustainable manner. This list of our planet's dysfunctional
practices could go on and on.
We
also have a corresponding list of 'what's working'---of progress
and development, of signals that love is alive with people, organizations
and nations, of 'senseless acts of beauty', and incredible demonstrations
of community organizing and commitment.
It
seems to me that a powerful leverage point that operates within
the distinction between what's working and not working, is to
simply notice and begin to heal the separation we feel at many
levels.
Responsibility
My
purpose here is not to 'beat us up' for creating the horrible
conditions still present in our world. Of course, we did it and
continue to do it. It's not the birds, trees or some mysterious
virus that creates these problems. People do. We do. But feeling
shame, guilt or anger about this doesn't move us toward solutions.
In a perverse way, it just makes us feel like good people because,
after all, only 'good people' feel shameful or guilty or angry
at injustice. Personally I have little or no space for people
just wringing their hands about the world's problems or blaming
others or just going unconscious about the issues and denying
they exist.
My
own belief is that operating from a position that I can make a
difference and I am powered by possibility works better for me.
And, that only from that position, can we change anything for
the better. The place to begin making a difference is with you
and me; launching a never ending process of self-reflection, understanding
and growth ... then taking that growth out into the world.
I've
often said that you want to meet the world's angriest people,
join a peace organization. If you want to meet people with the
most narrow and severe judgments, join the average evangelical
religious organization preaching love. These kinds of groups often
seem to attract people who want to deliver a message to others
that they are not living themselves. My notion of taking responsibility
for One World, One People is for me to begin with me and you begin
with you. The poster slogan is true: "If it is to be, it is up to me."
We
can choose to participate in the realization of this vision not
as a burden, nor a result of our guilt; but as an opportunity
to give, to receive, to make a difference and to celebrate our
common humanity.
Communication:
The
risk inherent in the EP message of personal awareness, responsibility
and growth is that we contribute to creating a population of narcissists,
navel gazers and selfish, self-absorbed "loners." Successful
but disconnected people. Having a personal experience of one world,
one people and even taking responsibility for it is not enough.
We must learn to communicate this vision openly, honestly, compassionately
and effectively. We must learn to be 'masters of enrollment',
capable of effectively engaging ourselves, our families and friends,
our co-workers and the members of our community in our positive
vision for a world free of separation, One World, One People.
The
beginning, as with all good enrollments, is to build rapport,
to meet people where they are and connect with them before introducing
any idea for change and growth. It is urgent at this point to
center ourselves, to quiet ourselves and especially to quiet any
thought that our ideas and beliefs are superior or more 'right'
than another's.
Questions
work better than statements. Listening works better than talking.
Feeling the other person works better than thinking about the
idea or what you want to say next. Being one world, one people
works better than doing it.
I
have no doubt that people who follow a regular practice of prayer
or meditation on subjects like peace, the end of hunger and even
one world, one people are making a contribution to these worthwhile
visions. I further believe that any 'quiet practice' is a form
of communication that connects us to all beings at a subjective
level. People do this with special body postures (hands clasped,
spine erect, etc), while walking in nature (my personal favorite),
through dance, sport or music and many other ways.
Other
people communicate this vision through touch such as therapeutic
massage and improved body postures or through spending time regulaly
assisting the blind, deaf, aged or infirm. Some communicate through
singing or art or photography or reading to people confined to
institutions.
But
we must communicate and act. It keeps the vision alive for us.
It serves others and that energy returns to us, thus propelling
us forward. It inspires others. It changes the energy field around
us from taker to giver. It makes a difference.
My friend, the late John Denver said it magnificently:
"There are many ways of being,
in the circle we call life."
One
of the EP seminar agreements is to keep confidential the experiences
of others. This is to create the safest possible training environment.
My personal experience is that the people that get the most value
from an EP seminar are those who keep this agreement while simultaneously
and frequently communicating openly and honestly about their personal
experience. Doing so brings the experience into the present where
it can be better understood and deepened. It also brings other
people closer to understanding and being with you. Open communication,
both speaking and listening, about anything important to you,
begins the process of accomplishment. It is through this action
that we will create one world, one people, beginning with you
and me.
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