Embrace Change Blog
On Interacting with "Those Who Anger Us"
I had a lot of feelings when reading this article on Overcoming Ill Will.
First, I was really hoping that there'd be some "easy fix" for me – some neatly-packaged, 3-step way to deal with "those who anger us." This is, of course, something that's really top-of-mind for me lately, especially the last month (holy *$%^, how has it only been a month??!?!).
I found that there was helpful advice in several analogies. But almost immediately, my positivity turned into (light) despair.
And then I laughed in appreciation as the author pulls no punches...
The Thorny Problem of Employee Burnout
Employee burnout, disengagement, and malaise are long-standing challenges in many organizations and throughout the workforce. A recent study demonstrates how serious the problem actually is.
So here's the bottom line: HR and organizational leadership have to step up and be proactive about shifting workplace culture by...
On Not Knowing What's Next
Post-inauguration teachings from Tricycle:
For many decades American politics has been becoming increasingly spectacular in the literal sense of that word: like a spectacle, a show. Maybe Trump’s expertise as a reality TV star, and the consequences of his style, will finally inspire us to stop being spectators and begin being citizens. This is my hope.
As citizens we will have to pay less attention to political hype and more attention to actual political details. We will have to be better informed and more critical.
...
All this amounts to simple mindfulness. Usually we think of mindfulness as awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and sensations. Yes, mindfulness begins there. But true mindfulness...
Surviving This Administration
It has only been 16 days since the inauguration and it feels like much longer. It is kind of shocking how much has already happened. For those who are actively fighting against the injustices that are taking place and for those who stand in solidarity with them, it's critical that we take time to take care of ourselves.
This will be a marathon, not a sprint. And, in the words of Angela Davis, freedom is a constant struggle.
So here are two links to help sustain us in these trying times.
On MLK, Buddhism & Interrelatedness
During this week between MLK Day and a truly historic set of protest marches set to take place across the country, I'm finding even deeper meaning in the words of Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, a Soto Zen Buddhist priest of African descent:
King was trying to deliver the same message as Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s teaching of interbeing. He wanted us to understand interrelatedness.
So when a young black child is murdered we are all being killed.