Category: Inspiration

Week 9

Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage — to move in the opposite direction. ~ Albert Einstein

Simplicity is a radical idea. Sometimes I think the complexity of human systems is just a smokescreen for a lack of clarity or confidence that we know what we’re doing. I often find myself longing for a world where nobody tolerates the confusion of our man-made complexity. When we use models, analogies, stories and metaphor, we can simplify and understand systems. This week: where can you move towards simplicity and away from complexity?

More: Explore the Santa Fe Institute, which researches complexity theory.

Corollary: Make everything as simple as possible, but no simpler. ~ Albert Einstein

Read the Weekly Green from Week 8 here.

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Week 8

There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace. ~ Aldo Leopold

When we connect with what is real in this physical world, we are so much the richer for it. The land, the soil, the rain, sunlight, heat, cold – these are all conditions of life on earth that we might ignore or take for granted. There is a great, mysterious engine behind all of this, which quickly leads to the spiritual. When we connect with this source, our awe and wonder deepens. This week, connect with wonder by asking: where does your breakfast come from?

More: Find a farmer’s market anywhere in the U.S. by visiting Local Harvest.

Read the Weekly Green from Week 7 here.

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Week 7

When you turn to the Sun all shadows fall behind you. ~ African proverb

What does turning toward the sun look like in practical terms? Sure, it’s easy to despise and rail against a company like BP for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. But what happens when we look inside and honestly see our own complicity in this disaster – and others? Blame is a form of domination, and it prevents us from shedding light on our own truth. Where are you judging, and how can you transform that into compassion this week?

More: Cultivate compassion daily with these 7 practices.

Read the Weekly Green from Week 6 here.

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Week 6

There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

When faced with so many challenges – or even choices – we can become paralyzed. This reminds me that there is no one right answer. The important thing is to keep moving, trying new things, and adjust course when necessary. Where are you standing still, and what small step forward can you take this week?

More: Franklin D. Roosevelt entry in the Encyclopedia of Earth.

Read the Weekly Green from Week 5 here.

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Week 5

It is impossible to care for each other more or differently than we care for the earth. ~ Wendell Berry

In our modern world, the importance of care is undervalued, ignored, considered irrelevant. While this is slowly changing, we are yet part of a culture that sees people and the earth as objects to be conquered, subdued, and used for our own ends. Our fate is intertwined with that of the earth – whether positively or negatively. How can you contribute to this cultural shift by practicing care and respect this week?

More: Watch Riane Eisler speak about a caring economics and leverage points for the shift from domination to partnership.

Read the Weekly Green from Week 4 here.

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Week 4

The best way to give ourselves to the future is to give ourselves totally to the present moment. ~ Albert Camus

I love to play with the delicate balance of having goals, yet living each moment in the here and now. This is one of the miraculous aspects of being human. There is a discipline to living in the present, to avoid hashing over the past or fantasizing too much about the future. Yet, it’s not workable to ignore our desires and dreams. How can you tap your power of vision this week by noticing your present state?

More: Meditation is excellent practice to be in the present moment. Learn how from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the spiritual leader of Shambhala.

Read the Weekly Green from Week 3 here.

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Week 3

When the winds of change begin to blow, some people build walls. Others build windmills. ~ Chinese proverb

Change is an inevitable part of life. Yet, a part of us always wants to cling to the old, familiar ways. We resist, deny, and construct elaborate scenarios to stave off change. At the same time, we are perfectly equipped with the vision and creativity to turn change to our advantage. Most, if not all, advancements in our evolution have followed this pattern. Where can you make lemonade out of lemons this week?

More: Watch biomimetic architect Michael Pawlyn show how he builds windmills.

Read the Weekly Green from Week 2 here.

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