Enjoy this inspiration moment of rejuvenation from the new book, by Going SOULo Board Member Kenneth Banks entitled The Gift. After you reflect on the words you can quietly mediate on the message until the end of the music. Come back often for a moment of Ah and forward the Gift to any of your friends and colleagues who may also need a little Ah moment in their lives. New Installments of The Gift will appear here regularly.

Enjoy the Gift

Being deeply loved

by someone gives you strength,

while loving someone deeply

gives you courage. Lao Tzu

I remember growing up and being taught that certain religions were wrong or demonic, that some people couldn’t be trusted based upon the color of their skin, or that people with different sexual identities were evil. What I have come to learn and appreciate is that each one of us is part of the other. Nothing that exists does so in isolation. All things are connected. The challenge is in understanding that there is an unequivocal and universal connection to all life species, human, animal, plant or anything else. Sometimes I think our rugged individualism for our own success may detract from the abilities and opportunities of others to express and be appreciated.

What I have come to learn is to reflect upon every connection I have, my suffering, hurt, anger and frustration that I might discover my purpose and become directed in a loving way. It is in this connection that I reflect upon my skin color, gender, economic station in life and the meaning of love. Instead of holding on to hatred rooted in years of misinformation, racism, sexism and all of the other mental energy fields (distractions) that have been constructed by me and others which cripple my ability to love another or any other; I choose this day to love – the best way I know. My desire is to learn more through each experience to love everyone, all, regardless of their race, politics, and religion or any other label created.

How do I see the purpose in tragedy and suffering? How can I say that I love the Creator or the God of all things and not love parts of the Creator’s Creation? How can I say that I love while I dishonor my natural environment and continue to be part of over consumption and waste? How can I say I love when I allow the labels and social constructs to dictate who others and I are?

Life is a tremendous gift and an amazing journey into experience. Everything in life worth having requires some effort on the part of those who would receive. What effort am I willing to put forth to transform the hatred towards others who are different? The ultimate quest in life is to love, and be willing to receive. I pray, reflect and meditate upon the desire to love each day, situation and each part of creation with all my body, mind and soul. Where there is love there is life. What do you think? Join us as we move along the journey of love.

Share your thoughts about love race and other differences in our  facebook community

Emilio

Whether with a simple card or a wistful song, love is communicated through art.  Music, drama, dance, visual arts, literature and film transcend individual differences in cultural and social backgrounds, which build barriers to communication. Art is a universal language of love in all its forms – not just romantic love.  Art expresses the very essence of who we are – our beliefs, values and ideals.  It has the magical quality to provoke emotions and empathy that let us experience people and the world from different perspectives. This allows us to appreciate and celebrate diversity, opening the door to communication and understanding.

We need the arts to develop and nurture our creative spirits.  What we do to explore and enjoy life is as important to our personal growth as what we do to earn a living.  Pablo Picasso said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”   Art plays an integral role in developing us as whole beings.

The value of fine arts in education can’t be ignored.  These lessons give us the languages to engage ourselves and others.  They motivate us to have a vision, set goals, become risk takers, profit from mistakes, work toward an ideal and learn by expressing ourselves.  Self expression integrates our minds, spirits, and bodies.  Then it reaches out to inspire and unite others.  The arts have universal powers that can raise consciousness and transform society.  Creativity and imagination are necessary to solve problems and spark positive change.  In this chaotic 21^st century, we must envision a better world and turn our abstract ideas into creative realities.

Maxine Green, a former college professor who established a foundation for social imagination, the arts and education, says that the arts give us “the capacity to see things as if they could be otherwise.”  What a wonderful perceptive gift. Open your heart to the language of love and support the arts.

Share your experiences, rewards and challenges of engaging in the arts?

Linda

As the Going SOULo community  explores love, we can all use  this moment to take stock of the affairs of your own heart – to check in with that vital organ perched behind your breast-bone which not only Hallmark says is the center of amour, but also where science points to rate and pulse, and religions determined long ago the seat of the soul resides.  So, consider giving yourself a mind-body-spirit tune-up of the heart!

As far as the body goes, the American Heart Association reminds us that heat disease is still our number one killer.  An American has a coronary event every 25 seconds and every minute someone dies as a result. The good news is that the chance of developing coronary heart disease can be reduced greatly with steps to control your health, starting with the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits.

Following the “Life’s Simple 7” steps will take you a long way toward good heart health.  Step one – good nutrition: eat a variety of wholesome food daily and include fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains.  Keep your weight in the healthy range. Watch your cholesterol levels, keeping the total less that 200 mg, and minimize sugar intake. Exercise at least 30 minutes at a moderately intense level five days a week. If you smoke, stop today. Develop healthy sleep habits and be sure to build periods of relaxation into your day. These steps should help keep your blood pressure below 120/80.  Start with a few manageable changes and know that even a small change can make a big difference.

The heart means so much more than the pitter-patter of a strong muscle. We credit the heart as the place where our emotions are “felt.”  We “trust” our hearts, we experience heart ache and heart break, I (heart) you, and we sing about “heart and soul.”   Though we say our emotions live in the heart, an emotion is actually the result of the brain and heart acting in concert; emotion is where the mind meets the body.  Research shows that when our brain identifies an emotion like love, the heart produces a distinct rhythm – a smooth pattern like gently rolling hills. Such harmonious heart rhythms indicate cardiovascular efficiency and a balanced nervous system. It turns out that feeling good is actually good for your heart!

Cultivating positive feelings like appreciation is one way to take care of your heart. Think of something or someone you feel genuinely appreciative of, and as this memory conjures up feelings of gratitude, you are harmonizing your heart rhythm and reducing emotional stress.

When we extend these good feelings beyond ourselves to another, when we “open our hearts” to others, our hearts seem to thrive and actually light up with electromagnetic energy.  When people regularly visualize their hearts opening and reaching out to others, they have felt more calm, empathetic and creative.

We have long identified the heart as that place where spirit resides, the deep inner quiet that houses the soul. Not only does the heart have positive meanings in most world religions, visualizations and meditations often start with a focus on the heart center. It is important to tend to the heart as our spiritual center not only for our own nourishment, but also for the human spirit in the hearts of our families, our communities, and the world at-large.

It is through this essential heart tune-up that you can care for your body, mind and soul, while you also tend to the hearts of others!

To kindle your spirit, try this simple visualization:  As your settle into a moment of quiet reflection, imagine breathing the divine into your heart, and with each exhalation, spread this heart energy throughout your body and then let it flow out into the world.

Join me in our discussion board in our face book community to share your thoughts on loving yourself during challenging times.

Laurie

When we hear the word love, typically, most people’s thoughts turn to love of the romantic kind – love targeted with Cupid’s arrows towards that one special person in your life. But love is more than that. I invite you to consider the impact of your loving intent on our Society as a whole.

In my new book Going SOULo, An Adventure, I turn the idea of love upside down by suggesting a corner of this Valentine’s Day romantic love be shared with the world at-large.  Going SOULo asserts that humans must evolve, urgently, right now, in our experience of love, or we (and our planet) are in danger of cycling down to destruction.

That might sound a bit heavy on the doom and gloom, but hang in there with me for a moment longer.  I assure you that Going SOULo also offers plenty of humor and excitement to offset its urgent plea on behalf of the healing power of universal love.

I believe that America, and the rest of the world, are now in a fragile state. Only through the efforts of everyday people like you and me radiating more soulful qualities like forgiveness, compassion, humility, tolerance, service and of course love, can we ever hope to reverse the virus of hopelessness that seems to have spread throughout our country.

A radical idea – right? I am not first blaming others for the litany of problems we face, like our leaders, Washington D.C., or our enemies, or those damn Tea Party people, or the “liberal commies” – but rather, first looking in the mirror at the role we’ve each played in enabling the madness to continue for so long.

It only takes a little cynicism here, a dash of demonizing there, a tiny bit of looking the other way, a smidge of convincing yourself that it’s not your problem, a heap of finger pointing, and a load of “everybody else does it”, day after day, week after week, year after year to breed hopelessness and despair. We mindlessly blend these ingredients into a despicable, toxic brew of dysfunctional incivility. We’ve become alarmingly accustomed to tolerating and feeding off of it.

We have to evolve beyond caring only about “my family, my religion, my nation, my shareholders, and my political ideology.” We can no longer sustain a nation or a planet by only caring about the parts of the world we agree with and find comfortable.  The salvation of our society requires us to engage with and love the whole wide wonderful world.

Imagine what the world would be like if more people loved humanity and the planet with the same dedication and passion with which we love our families. While this might be a bit of stretch for some, I believe there are enough of us who quietly long for this new day.

Share your thoughts and ideas about loving the world in our facebook community.

Mark

Is there such a thing as a “Loving Organization?” We think so. Not one where there’s a rose on every desk placed there by a cyber pixie or the kind of organization where everyone walks around wearing the organization’s logo over their heart.

When we talk about “Loving Organizations” we are thinking more about the kinds of work settings that are known as welcoming, caring places. Places that people look forward to coming to each day. Places that people speak of with enthusiasm and pride. Places that are grounded in the kind of enlightened self interest that puts people first, knowing that if the customers and employees are well served and satisfied, there is a much greater possibility of organization success.

“Loving Organizations” look outward first, taking careful stock of business environment trends. What is happening in their industry and in the economic, technological, political/legal, socio-cultural and physical environments that is likely to affect the way the organization does business? What messages are customers, suppliers, distributors, regulators, investors, union members, community members and other stakeholders sending? “

Loving Organizations” think strategically and carefully about how to adapt to these trends and messages, and communicate about planned changes with employees in an open, caring and timely manner. “Loving Organizations” are serious about being good citizens of the communities in which they are located and about being conscious stewards of Planet Earth.

When “Loving Organizations” look inward, they are concerned about creating work cultures in which every employee is treated with dignity and respect; where diversity is valued not only for its own sake but for the different perspectives and creativity that it generates; where work groups are encouraged and supported to improve their work processes to increase the efficiency, quality and enjoyment of their work; where all individuals are given opportunities to increase their competency in their current positions and to develop themselves for future career options; where work-life balance is not just a meaningless phrase, but a guiding principle for how work is done at every level of the organization.

People in “loving organizations” know something about each other’s families, interests and activities. They take the time to check in with each other to see how things are going or to offer support when they know that there has been an illness, or problem situation. They laugh with each other and engage in good-natured teasing and friendly competitions. There is a strong sense of “we” – not “us” and “them” — and they celebrate together when they have achieved their goals.

If this all sounds a bit idyllic, know that such work places do exist. (We’ve been fortunate enough to consult with a few of them). And ask yourself the following questions:

1. What are three things I could start doing that would help me look at my organization or work group as a more “loving organization?”
2. What are three things I could suggest that everyone in my work group start doing that would help us actually become a more “loving organization?”
3. Why not?

Share your reactions, ideas and experiences about loving organizations in our facebook community.

Sue and Howard Lamb

“Lately it seems our society

has neglected the importance or love in our everyday interactions.

Love is a human quality that belongs in all interpersonal encounters.”

– Mark Williams, Founder, GoingSOULo.com

A buffer of blatant mistrust is increasingly evident in nearly all political activities. Cold, passive-aggressive hostility has replaced common civility in venues ranging from school PTA meetings to the Presidents address to Congress. Main Street doesn’t trust Wall Street. The media is filled with reports of bickering partisanship. Consumers are increasingly cynical of corporate executives. And the blame game is more popular than ever. Even organized religions have lost followers as greater numbers of people purport to be ‘spiritual but not religious.’

“I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people will want peace so much that one of these days, governments had better get out of the way and let them have it.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

Can the average person do something, anything, to turn the tide of negativity? According to Dr. Melva Green, a leader of the GoingSOULo.com, a web site dedicated to personal and societal transformation. “Americans are can-do people. They aren’t satisfied with wringing their hands. They want to roll up their sleeves! We know how to get things done and we can fix this too. Our community of Change Agents is taking real action to stop the virus of hopelessness.”

The Going SOULo mission is all about taking back our responsibility for our world, starting with our selves. In order to end the blame game, the obvious place to look for answers doesn’t require going anywhere, it’s right here…the man in the mirror. Before we panic at the staggering implications of that responsibility, ponder these truths:

1) We need only address the issues arising in the present moment. That unburdens us from the crushing weight of the past and the future. We always have the freedom to invite love into the present moment.

2) We have sovereignty over our own minds. We have the power to choose how we want to feel and think about anything and everything. As Neville said, “feeling IS the secret.”

3) We have help! We’re not alone. Most people believe in the power of love, we simply need to trust and remind each other to do so.  Now, with technological support of social networking, we all can tap into the infinite reservoir of shared insight and universal ingenuity. We can instantly share that sense of levity that bulldozes inner barriers to positivity.

So, what CAN we do to make a positive difference? The answer has been around since the beginning of time. Love your neighbor.

Most people think about love in intimate familial or romantic forms. Universal neighborly love is the quality that moves us up from Survival Beings to Soul Beings…

We minimize the potential fear of any situation by trusting in the power of love. The blame game seems suddenly ludicrous and laughable from the genuinely and completely inclusive – truly loving – paradigm.

“Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?”

–        Abraham Lincoln

Dr. Melva Green

Many of us are in the stage of life where seeking, understanding and living in our “purpose” is taking center stage.  “Why am I here?”  “What legacy will I leave?”  “What have I been called to do?” “How can I make the world a better place?”  Discovering the answers to these questions is a deeply personal process – one that comes from hearing and honoring your own inner voice.

I believe we each have a distinct purpose – something we are uniquely called to be and do.  I also believe there’s more…that we are called to a common purpose, a purpose which will lead us to a clearer understanding of our individual, unique purpose.  That common purpose is LOVE.

Moses gave us an indication when he cited the great command (purpose) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your strength” in the Old Testament.  Jesus Christ underscored that command (purpose) in the New Testament and added, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Here’s a question for you:  Is it important to love and honor the purpose for which you were created or is it important to love and honor the one who created you for that purpose?  I believe the answer is YES.  Loving the purpose and loving the one who created you for a purpose are interdependent – it’s a polarity.  How can we live in divine purpose without honoring and loving the one who created us for that purpose?  Conversely, how can we honor and love the one who created us for a specific purpose without loving and honoring that purpose?

Let’s take this a step further.  How can we love the Divine Creator without loving ourselves and how can we love ourselves without loving our neighbors?   Okay, I know it’s not always easy to keep this expansive level of loving going.   At times it can be downright hard, especially when the line between our neighbor’s [or our] detestable acts seems to meld into their [our] being.  As Ghandi noted, “Hate the sin and not the sinner is a precept which though easy enough to understand is rarely practiced.”  Nevertheless, we are called to do it.

Not hating the sinner is one thing.  Loving them, as Christ commanded, is another.  Is it possible for us?  I believe it is if we will “Be Still and Know God.”  In the stillness, in the moments of truly knowing God, I believe we will begin to know ourselves and our neighbors and out of this divine knowing will come divine love.

“How can we make a difference in the world?”  “How can we rid the world of hatred?”  Here’s a bit of wisdom.  Buddha said, “Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.”  Nikki (age 6) said, “If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.”  Out of the mouths of babes!  Now that’s love for you.  And that’s purpose.

Share your thoughts about your “divine purpose” in our facebook community.

Chandra Goforth Irvin