I don't know about you but over the past few weeks I've been struggling to control the conflicting chaos of overstimulation, widening divisions and a woe-be-me dose of hopelessness. A rather toxic triad that can only be the borne fruits from living through many a broken system that we're all experiencing, multiplied by an incessant barrage of negativity from most angles.(It gets cheerier, honest).Appreciate that this relatively regular light-hearted digest you've signed up for isn't a place for political discourse, in fact, quite the contrary, but Jesus Christ (excuse for the blaspheme, Mum) it's a bit of a shit show out there. Enough for us to choose the perceivably safer haven of neutrality and subdue our beliefs. For the best, maybe?Whilst that may sound a little extreme. As a recovering realist turned optimist, I try not to entertain those thoughts too deeply too often.What I've found during my regular Sunday nights of late, typically spent reflecting, researching and assimilating subjects that I hope will intrigue you, is that the tone has been more negative than usual.Some would say that that's just it.It's the world we live in now so respond appropriately and deal with the forces in equal measure – fight fire with fire (Metallica, et al.) and take an eye for an eye (Hebrew commandment).But as the American author who most notably penned 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' quite rightly pointed out... "If everyone fought fire with fire, the entire world would go up in smoke. – Lemony SnicketAnd an eye for an eye is a surefire way of making everyone blind.If they aren't fitting metaphors for current times then I don't know what is. Personally, I'd rather heed martial arts master Bruce Lee's advice and "be water, my friend" when it comes to fighting fire. Seriously though; dealing with forces in equal measure not only disobeys the principles of negotiation psychology, but anecdotally, myself and others around me have found to be harbouring resentment with lowering levels of tolerance, preparing for conflict with no real opponents, and straight up avoiding situations when we should really be strengthening bonds and enjoying the dynamic, diplomatic nature of respectful conversation with others. Others different to us in age, race, gender, beliefs etc.As the French do rather well.After all, that is what makes us human.It's not just our ability to think, feel and do with intellect that makes us human. Not if you go by one of the oldest philosophies on humanity there was, the Zulu proverb that derived from African culture – Ubuntu – meaning "I am who I am because we are."Pronounced (oo-boon-to), it takes the first principle of human consciousness described by French philosopher, Descartes: "I think therefore I am" and transforms it into "I am because we are". It forms part of a phrase that translates to "a person is a person through other people" therefore without people we are but human.And that may sound like an obvious statement yet through our egos we don't often think that way, certainly not predominantly anyway.Ubuntu is the recognition that we are who we are because of the greatness of others in our lives, right from the off, and our betterment is ultimately because of the betterment of communal support. It's a collective way of saying that when we seek to improve the lives of others then our own lives improve even more so.Likened to Aristotle's proverb "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" from which the acronym T.E.A.M (Together Everyone Achieves More) was consequently coined.It was popularised by the late great African leaders Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela (Barack Obama even ended Madiba's memorial speech with an ode to Ubuntu) described as a universal truth that underpins the concept of an open, communal and humanistic society."We achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others" – Barack Obama – Nelson Mandela's memorial service (2013).Whilst this may seem like an ideological pipe-dream or a fanciful hope that couldn't possibly slot into Western society living. It's the principles of Ubuntu that I'll be taking into 2022 as my guiding spirit. The same principle that basketball coach Doc Rivers used that triggered the biggest turnaround in NBA history (Source).There are two parts to Ubuntu.The first is acknowledging that we are who we are today because of the impact of others in our communities and we have to be thankful for that, to them. However further developed we have become since. It's a humbling practice that's steeped in gratitude and by now I'm sure you're all aware of the mental fitness benefits.Secondly, it's understanding that we have an interpersonal responsibility to be that supporting force to others in our communities in an intentionally selfless fashion that doesn't solely focus on the achievement of self-orientated goals.So with that, my first question of the new year:How can you incorporate the principles of Ubuntu in 2022?If you're willing to share then hit reply and I'll drop some of them in the next edition to help those who may need some inspiration.Until then!Charlie
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SUNDAY NIGHT SLIDES
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I don't know about you but over the past few weeks I've been struggling to control the conflicting chaos of overstimulation, widening divisions and a woe-be-me dose of hopelessness. A rather toxic triad that can only be the borne fruits from living through many a broken system that we're all experiencing, multiplied by an incessant barrage of negativity from most angles.(It gets cheerier, honest).Appreciate that this relatively regular light-hearted digest you've signed up for isn't a place for political discourse, in fact, quite the contrary, but Jesus Christ (excuse for the blaspheme, Mum) it's a bit of a shit show out there. Enough for us to choose the perceivably safer haven of neutrality and subdue our beliefs. For the best, maybe?Whilst that may sound a little extreme. As a recovering realist turned optimist, I try not to entertain those thoughts too deeply too often.What I've found during my regular Sunday nights of late, typically spent reflecting, researching and assimilating subjects that I hope will intrigue you, is that the tone has been more negative than usual.Some would say that that's just it.It's the world we live in now so respond appropriately and deal with the forces in equal measure – fight fire with fire (Metallica, et al.) and take an eye for an eye (Hebrew commandment).But as the American author who most notably penned 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' quite rightly pointed out... "If everyone fought fire with fire, the entire world would go up in smoke. – Lemony SnicketAnd an eye for an eye is a surefire way of making everyone blind.If they aren't fitting metaphors for current times then I don't know what is. Personally, I'd rather heed martial arts master Bruce Lee's advice and "be water, my friend" when it comes to fighting fire. Seriously though; dealing with forces in equal measure not only disobeys the principles of negotiation psychology, but anecdotally, myself and others around me have found to be harbouring resentment with lowering levels of tolerance, preparing for conflict with no real opponents, and straight up avoiding situations when we should really be strengthening bonds and enjoying the dynamic, diplomatic nature of respectful conversation with others. Others different to us in age, race, gender, beliefs etc.As the French do rather well.After all, that is what makes us human.It's not just our ability to think, feel and do with intellect that makes us human. Not if you go by one of the oldest philosophies on humanity there was, the Zulu proverb that derived from African culture – Ubuntu – meaning "I am who I am because we are."Pronounced (oo-boon-to), it takes the first principle of human consciousness described by French philosopher, Descartes: "I think therefore I am" and transforms it into "I am because we are". It forms part of a phrase that translates to "a person is a person through other people" therefore without people we are but human.And that may sound like an obvious statement yet through our egos we don't often think that way, certainly not predominantly anyway.Ubuntu is the recognition that we are who we are because of the greatness of others in our lives, right from the off, and our betterment is ultimately because of the betterment of communal support. It's a collective way of saying that when we seek to improve the lives of others then our own lives improve even more so.Likened to Aristotle's proverb "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" from which the acronym T.E.A.M (Together Everyone Achieves More) was consequently coined.It was popularised by the late great African leaders Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela (Barack Obama even ended Madiba's memorial speech with an ode to Ubuntu) described as a universal truth that underpins the concept of an open, communal and humanistic society."We achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others" – Barack Obama – Nelson Mandela's memorial service (2013).Whilst this may seem like an ideological pipe-dream or a fanciful hope that couldn't possibly slot into Western society living. It's the principles of Ubuntu that I'll be taking into 2022 as my guiding spirit. The same principle that basketball coach Doc Rivers used that triggered the biggest turnaround in NBA history (Source).There are two parts to Ubuntu.The first is acknowledging that we are who we are today because of the impact of others in our communities and we have to be thankful for that, to them. However further developed we have become since. It's a humbling practice that's steeped in gratitude and by now I'm sure you're all aware of the mental fitness benefits.Secondly, it's understanding that we have an interpersonal responsibility to be that supporting force to others in our communities in an intentionally selfless fashion that doesn't solely focus on the achievement of self-orientated goals.So with that, my first question of the new year:How can you incorporate the principles of Ubuntu in 2022?If you're willing to share then hit reply and I'll drop some of them in the next edition to help those who may need some inspiration.Until then!Charlie