Monday, October 30, 2006

The global economy...as if it is an actual entity...

The other day, listening to an economic report, the reporter was talking about the 'global economy' in such a way that one would think it was an actual entity--like a Fred or a porcupine. The more I thought about this--the more I realized how trapped we all are in this delusion that the 'global economy' is actually a real thing. As a result, we 'serve' it as if it is our master. Really stop and think about this for a moment, 'global economy' is only a concept not an actual entity that any one person or institution is in charge of or in control of at all. But when we hear someone talk about the global economy we attach to it a significance or a reality that is unjustified.

Then today (Oct 30), all the news channels were reporting a story that the impact of global warming could devastate the 'global economy'. With oceans rising, flooding increasing, droughts in previously fertile areas, etc., these reports were tying global warming to the global economy. The reports stated that global warming could have the same economic devastation as the impact of two world wars and the 1929 depression rolled into one on the global economy. And everyone shutters and panics! Oh no, where will the money be!!!!

The reason everyone shutters is because we're currently operating under the modern economic paradigm that says money represents value. According to this paradigm, the more money one has, the more things of value one can buy, leading to greater well-being. So, today's report of a devastated global economy is about the 'money'/value crashing. As 'money/value' stops flowing, everything is going to be awful. Without money we can't 'buy' things of value and our well-being isn't possible.

And if the modern economic paradigm was the only option--they would be right, it will be awful! But the good news is that the modern economic paradigm is not the only option. The parallel for Life Puzzle makers is the realization that while 90% of the world operates on the 0-5 reactive/unconscious/victim side of the Choosing Continuum--Life Puzzle-makers know there's the 6-10 choice--proactive/conscious/empowered side of the Choosing Continuum. Once you shift into 6-10, you realize it was there all along!

The same is true for us as we look at a world attached to the current modern economic paradigm. This is the 0-5 choice--and while it is all around us, it isn't the only choice. There is a 6-10 choice available for all of us-- it is the post-modern economic paradigm.

A post-modern economic paradigm is not based on the paradigm of money represents value. The post-modern economic paradigm values our physical well-being, mental and emotional health, social relationships, ability to meet our basic needs and needs of those we care about, our connection to the natural environment around us and our need for spiritual meaning. In other words, the post-modern economic paradigm values LIFE, not money.

While global warming will have tremendous impact on the "money" world, it doesn't mean that LIFE won't go on. We will need to determine though whether or not we keep our selves stuck to the old paradigm of money = value, thus, lack of money means lack of value. OR, will be wake up to see that we could create a whole new paradigm that values LIFE--returning to our communities, taking care of our lives, our families, our local earth and building an economy that supports LIFE.

The post modern economic paradigm, like the 6-10 in Life Puzzle making has always been available for us and the world to choose. We just couldn't see it in the blindness of the traditional path. But as many Life Puzzle makers have said to me when they learn to see the 16 core areas, 5 edges that create the SELF in the Life Puzzle--wow, there it was right in front of me and I couldn't see it! Now that I do, what could be more obvious.

I believe we are on the threshold of doing the same thing with the global economy. Yes, the reports of economic devastation (old model) are possible--but as we begin to explore and realize the possibility in the 6-10 post modern economic paradigm (new model), we'll realize that 'wow, it was right in front of us and we couldn't see it...but now that we do, what could be more obvious!

So, take heart, stay positive, keep building your Life Puzzle and reach out to the community and show others! As you move into the 6-10, proactive/conscious design of building a whole and dynamic life--know that if we were all 6-10 Life Puzzle makers, we would transform the current economic system in a post modern, whole system economy too! And then the dread the world has on hearing that the 'global economy' is going to be devastated will no longer be necessary!

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Reframe it...

Language is such a powerful tool in how we design our lives. The words we choose 'frame' the way we see our world and those words impact the way we take responsibility for creating our Life Puzzle.

Yet few people recognize this. We talk to our SELF or to others will little recognition of how the words we use influence the choices we make and the vision we see of our lives. A simple example would be to look at two words which essentially define the same supposed outcome and yet, in the difference of the words used, the frame or vision produces quite a different view. Think for a moment about these two words:
Anti-war or Pro-Peace

The other night while working with a live-online BodyMine!Life Puzzle group, one of the participants was talking about an activity/commitment that she was doing. When she first started thinking about it, the words she initially framed it with were "I won't do X". But almost as soon as they were out of her mouth--she said "No, no...that's not it, that's not how I want to approach this--that's old frame, 0-5. I want to reframe this from the 6-10 and say it from the angle of what I will do. So instead of 'not eating food brought to the office breakroom (donuts!)...it was instead a "I will eat foods that feed my brain". For her at that point, it wasn't choosing to not eat a donut, it was choosing to eat healthy brain food (and donuts do not qualify!). The difference for her are much like anti-war vs. pro-peace. Same outcomes but different ways of getting there.


Here's what so exciting when you stop to become conscious of the words you choose to frame your life.
1. Words are free--you can use any of the millions of words available and they are all yours for the taking at absolutely no charge! Thus, anti-war or pro-peace are equally yours!
2. No one can tell you what words you must choose--oh, they might try but since you and only can speak the words--to your SELF or to others, it means every day you can choose proactive words that enable a 6-10 proactive life.
3. The more you choose to frame your life towards what you do want, the more likely you are to create it. Imagine a world of people framing a world based on pro-peace, pro-proactive, pro-whole life vs. anti-war, reactive, fixing problems.

So, just stop for a moment and ask your SELF: how do I frame my day? Do I wake up each morning framing my day with language that focuses on the 'whole', peaceful, joyous way of living or do I wake up each morning to see 'war, problems, chaos, angst and hope I get through it.

All it takes is a moment to choose the 'frame' you build your life on!