Year: 2014

As spiritual growth and healing excite more and more people these days, it is becoming increasingly beneficial to clear your energy field and use techniques to release any emotional “baggage” or negative patterns in your life.  Some of the more sensitive of you have  noticed a shift in energy levels on the planet and it’s harder to live amidst all the anger, fear and negativity prevalent in our society.  This can manifest in your life in several ways: you’re growing tired of the escalating violence on TV,  you feel more compassion towards others, your current job is not fulfilling, you lose interest in certain activities, or you feel there’s a higher purpose to your life and you’re being guided to explore something new.  No matter how it’s manifesting for you, there is a discomfort or restlessness as old patterns, habits and judgment of others  seem to fade away in favor of a more peaceful way of life.  This can be unsettling at times because it feels like you’re entering the “unknown”.  Awakening to Spirit isn’t always comfortable because the ego will fight for its “familiar” existence.  What can you do?  Listen to your inner voice-what is it whispering to you? Trust it and gently move in the direction of its suggestions.  How do I listen to my inner voice?  1.  Ask to connect with your higher Self.  ” I ask my  higher Self to assist me.”  2.  Ask a question out loud or in your mind.  ” Is this new job opportunity a good fit for me?” Or “What is holding me back from moving forward?” 3. Take a deep breath, exhale, and pause…you can feel good because you put your question out there.  4. Check in with how you feel.  Are any messages, ideas or thoughts coming in to your mind? If not right away, they will eventually. The message(s) you receive will feel different to you when it’s coming from your higher self…probably like a  gentle suggestion or a “knowing.”  Do this exercise at your own pace.  There is no pressure or hurry for answers, rather allow a gradual process of guidance to unfold one step at a time –  steps that your mind can accept without fear.  There is an individualized curriculum just for you!   Let your new ideas and insights unfold in a relaxed way 🙂  Be well everyone!

Created over a century ago, The John Lewis Partnership ( JLP) in England is the largest department store chain in the country with 35 department stores and 272 Waitrose grocery stores.  It is 100% employee owned.  It was created with fairness in mind.

As Marjorie Kelly notes in her article “The Good Corporation” in Yes! Magazine, there are economic alternatives to capitalism, akin to JLP, emerging as cooperatives, employee-owned firms, social enterprises and community land trusts.  Ownership by its employees unites these new models.

Our current economic system is crumbling.  As old systems break down, corporations and individuals alike would benefit from redefining their company purpose.  Instead of only answering to shareholders, enabling a “few” to profit, holding a shared vision of keeping the planet and all its inhabitants thriving would be a welcome change.  Embracing healthy sustainability and fairness empowers employees and their communities to flourish.

How do we make the switch to this alternative?

Fortunately, companies like JLP and Organic Valley serve as examples.

Organic Valley is a farmer-owned cooperative where the owners are the suppliers.  Kelly points out the shared benefits of this model:  ” Farmers benefit from healthy income. Employees benefit from stable jobs and rewarding work. Customers benefit from chemical-free food. Investors in the firm’s preferred stock benefit from dependable rates of return. Farming communities benefit from the return of vitality that flows from farmers’ prosperity.”

Change emerges through unity by holding the highest intentions for all involved – whatever the business, idea, or project.

An inspiring article written by Robert Mellinger in Yes! Magazine highlights veterans who are getting a fresh start through several different projects around the country.

The Farmer-Veteran Coalition (FVC) was formed by Michael O’Gorman, a successful organic farmer for 40 years. The FVC “connects veterans to the resources they need to start their farming careers.”   The FVC established the Farmer-Veteran Fellowship Fund which provides “individual grants of up to $10,000 for education, supplies, and equipment.”

The University of Nebraska – Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture has designed “Combat boots to Cowboy Boots” to assist in training military personnel, their families and armed forces veterans to become farmers, ranchers, and business entrepreneurs.

I can imagine how healing it is for veterans to find necessary, meaningful work.  Many soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Not only do these programs contribute to the healing and transition out of combat for our veterans, but farming also serves the needs of a larger community.  Rebuilding dwindling rural counties and creating new farming communities  will be necessary to sustain us in the future.

As the average American farmer (many baby-boomer farmers born between 1946 and 1964) is nearing retirement age, we welcome a new generation of farmers.

Dilemma: Can cooperation “beat out” competition?

A better understanding of the benefits of shared interests versus separate interests allows more room for cooperation in American culture.

Research dating back to the 1800’s repeatedly verifies the benefits of cooperation.   Dr. Perry W. Buffington wrote Competition vs. Cooperation, an article detailing interesting findings on this subject.

Cooperating with others makes us feel good.  Good feelings enhance overall well-being creating a better mood.  This results in better decision making.  When making better decisions we feel better about ourselves.  When we feel better about ourselves we are healthier and more productive.  Being productive becomes fun!

Competition, when used to pit one person against another depletes our energy and induces stress.  People often ask, “Isn’t it good to have a healthy sense of competition?” Although this thought is inherent in our culture, many experts favor cooperation.

Solution:

It is helpful to encourage people to their do “their personal best”.  If we can foster a sense of accomplishment for people and provide positive feedback, it wouldn’t be about “doing better than others”.  Rather people would feel good about themselves and their contributions to the whole.  This enhances self-esteem and boosts confidence.  The more confident people are, the less they tend to seek the approval of others.  Then creativity can flow unabated.

Cooperation joins us together, fosters creativity, strengthens community, enhances self-esteem, and allows everyone to share their talents without criticism and fear of rejection.

Cooperation can be as simple as showing appreciation, compromising, or engaging in active listening without judgment.  It’s never too late to find common ground!