Be A Change Master!

Written by Keith Varnum


The person who masters change, masters happiness.

The best way to thrive in today's ever-fluid, volatile world, is to become a master of change. A "Change Master" not only welcomes, invites and celebratesrepparttar flux of constantly evolving life, but also consciously drives and directs these rhythms. When you live "smart," you drive change. You don't have to let change drive you. When you shift from a "resistance-to-change" mindset toward a self-empowered frame of mind, you unlock your vitality, creativity and spirit.

Change,repparttar 130399 Unwelcome Guest

Most of us were not raised to welcome change. Onrepparttar 130400 contrary, our modern Western culture promotesrepparttar 130401 opposite:repparttar 130402 pursuit of predictability. We're advised to try to keep our life as regular, set and stable as possible. The status quo is sacred. The unknown future is portrayed as dangerous and threatening. "Don't rockrepparttar 130403 boat!" we're admonished. The collective strategy is thatrepparttar 130404 more aspects of our life that remainrepparttar 130405 same,repparttar 130406 less we have to adjust and adapt. Andrepparttar 130407 less we have to change,repparttar 130408 easier life will be. The party line is that change is inevitable-unfortunately!-but certainly no fun. Having to constantly change and grow is experienced as a struggle-a challenging, hard ordeal-by most of our elders.

Make Change Your Ally

Indigenous peoples have a different approach to change. Native peoples live closer to Nature than most Westerners do. And they take their cue from Mother Nature who advises: "Make change your friend, your ally. Allow change to work for you, not against you." The natural world suggests we learn to roll withrepparttar 130409 punches, so we can enjoy life exuberantly expressing itself through continual change.

Feng-shui Your Life

If we observe elements of nature, we see that water and wind flow withrepparttar 130410 life's tides of constant change. Water and wind are flexible and fluid, willing to transform shape immediately withrepparttar 130411 fluctuating forces acting upon them. They move inrepparttar 130412 direction ofrepparttar 130413 movement of change. They takerepparttar 130414 quickest, easiest path-the path of least resistance-no matter what changes in form are required. Hence,repparttar 130415 whole philosophy and practice of Feng-shui:repparttar 130416 art of nurturing energy flow, health and aliveness. The very term literally means "the way of wind and water." In Chinese, "feng" means wind, "shui" means water.

Change as Opportunity

Native peoples wisely view change as a personal opportunity, not as a threat. They know that change brings fresh perspectives and new possibilities. Indigenous peoples look forrepparttar 130417 gift in every curve ball that life throws us. Indigenous cultures welcomerepparttar 130418 surprise and spontaneity that naturally accompany change. They know thatrepparttar 130419 more we flow withrepparttar 130420 fluctuations of life,repparttar 130421 more resilient and happier we are.

"How Can I Steer Change to My Advantage?"

Knowing that change is inevitable and ever-occurring, tribal peoples intuitively respond to life's fluctuations ahead of time-rather than waiting until life forces them to change, reacting afterrepparttar 130422 fact. Looking ahead with excitement and clarity, native peoples anticipaterepparttar 130423 inevitable twists and turns of life's winding river. They prepare themselves and their lives to bend, re-arrange and transform to harmonize withrepparttar 130424 upcoming meanderings ofrepparttar 130425 river. They know that change is life's agent of renewal and strategy of survival.

Getting To Good: Your Spontaneous Woo Quotient

Written by Maya Talisman Frost


As I was driving to a friend's house, I passedrepparttar Dublin Pub, a local watering hole known for its live music. Onrepparttar 130397 reader board, one band's name caught my eye: Spontaneous Woo.

I did a little digging and learned thatrepparttar 130398 band hails from Bay City, Michigan and offers a funk/jazz blend. The term "spontaneous woo" refers to an audience response often seen during concerts in which a rising tide of enthusiasm culminates in a distinctive eruption of happy exclamations.

Now, there’s a universal human experience. There is nothing quite like letting out a joyous, spontaneous "Woo!" when things are going our way. We might personalize our woo, making it come out as "Yesss!" or "Sweeeeeet" or even "Woo-HOO!"

There’s an appropriate word for this in every language. No matter what elicits this response, we know it means something good has happened. We recognize these woos, whether inspired by simple pleasures or major milestones, as a celebration of goodness. What makes us woo tells us a whole lot about what we value, and what we value is all that is "good".

What is "good"? How do we define it?

The British poet, W.H. Auden, said: "Goodness is easier to recognize than to define." Isn't thatrepparttar 130399 truth!

We know "good" when we see it, just like we know when something is woo-worthy. Putting this into words in a consistent way is tough. This is where your personal philosophy comes in. Realize that your ideas of what makes a life "good" come fromrepparttar 130400 people you know,repparttar 130401 books you've read,repparttar 130402 movies you've seen, and a host of influences you can't remember right now.

We use "good" to describe everything from a haircut to a mathematical theory. Essentially, something is "good" if it satisfies a certain expectation we have of it--it hitsrepparttar 130403 target. A "good" cup of coffee could be strong, weak, bitter, sweet, milky, steaming hot, black, organic, shade-grown, or free, depending on what you value.

"Good" may be a moving target, but Aristotle happened to likerepparttar 130404 whole idea of targets. He usedrepparttar 130405 Greek word "telos" which wasrepparttar 130406 term used to describe an archery bulls-eye. It's a simple mental image--a big circle with a dot inrepparttar 130407 middle.

Teleology refers torepparttar 130408 study ofrepparttar 130409 purpose of things. Aristotle believed that everything in nature has a purpose, or target. A thing is good if it serves its purpose, fulfills its mission, or hits its target. The whole world is made up of these interrelated purposes.

According to Aristotle, our purpose is to think in order to live a good life. We're supposed to use our brains to contemplate, to appreciaterepparttar 130410 complexity ofrepparttar 130411 universe, to attain greater understanding of our role as humans, and to be happy. By fulfilling our role as thinkers, we are living to purpose-we are living a good life.

What does that mean exactly? What do we use as guidelines or markers to help us determine if we are getting close to good?

If, as Aristotle says, our purpose is to live a good life and be happy, why isn't there some simple formula we can apply to everyone? What'srepparttar 130412 minimum woo-quotient of a good life? Can we be happy if we're not living a good life? Can we live a good life if we're not happy?

How much do we need to be happy? We all know plenty of people who never seem to be happy no matter how much they have. One of our greatest challenges as humans is figuring out how much is enough.

Aristotle believed that we need to use courage, honesty and moderation in pursuing pleasure. He considered moral goodness and enjoyment in life asrepparttar 130413 same thing. He believed it was okay to pursue anything you want, as long as you don't go overboard. This concept of moderation became known asrepparttar 130414 "golden mean".

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