How Hard Do You Have to Work at "Getting" Spirituality?

I am one of those "new agers" (now, "getting older" agers) who believes in Teillard deChardin's description that we are "spiritual beings having a human experience." When our existence is viewed in that light, it appears that we do not have to work all that hard at being spiritual, we just ARE spiritual.

However, most of us want to FEEL a particular way, don't we? That's what we call "spirituality," the feeling that we get, deep, in what we call, our "soul." Thanks to our fast-paced, dog-eat-dog world, our souls are often the LAST parts of us that we remember to nourish.

Abraham Lincoln is supposed to have said that "people are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be," and HAPPINESS is a part of our spirituality. Do I arrise grumpy and out of sorts because of my problems and take it out on my spouse, children, or the people with whom I work? Is happiness a decision? I think so. I agree with Abe, I am as happy as I let myself be.

GRATITUDE is another part of being spiritual. What am I grateful for today, or on a daily basis? I am grateful for my family, friends, 12 Step Fellowships, my health and for being a productive "spiritual being" these days. There are those, (you and I know who they are), who show little thanks for the abundance in their lives, and who believe that it is their due. Our God (Higher Power of many names) appreciates being thanked. Which brings us to the next part of spirituality: God.

Not all of us call our Creator "GOD." Good Orderly Direction, The Force, and Goddess are only three of thousands, but the Creator is the basis, the beginning and end, of everything. A belief in some kind of Higher Power is essential to experiencing our spirituality. For me, it is more than a belief, it is an inner knowing that you, I, Mother Earth, animals, "all our relations," are interconnected at a level far beyond atoms and molecules, at the quantum level, our energies co-mingle. We are All There Is creations of the All There Is!

I attended a sacred drum circle last month and as we all stood near one another, I imagined that everyone was in his/her "spirit selves"...kind of like in the movie "Cocoon" when the human costumes were unzipped and discarded! There was such spiritual energy among us, and many who were strangers when the evening began, were friends when it ended.

All we have to do to "get spirituality" is to "let spirituality" in! Make your decision now, you'll never regret it.

Spirituality And Science - Opposites?

Do spirituality and science have to be opposed to each other? Unfortunately, just defining either concept seems almost hopeless at times. On the other hand, describing them is much easier, so let's start there.

Science isn't system, but an approach to knowledge, a method. Scientists will argue forever about the definition of science, but still agree it is the most useful or productive method of understanding the world. What are its essential characteristics? They are objective observation, the deriving of principles and "laws", and predictions based on these. (When it produces things, it is also technology.)

Science can be easily differentiated from religion by the fact that all of the knowledge it produces might be proven wrong. Religious "knowledge" is typically sacred, and untouchable, while scientific knowledge is always being overthrown or refined by further application of science. While faith is the cornerstone of religion, evidence is for science.

This explains why "creationist" science is not actually science. A creationist "scientist" will not allow his religiously based beliefs to be challenged by new evidence. He will openly tell you that his "faith" is more important to him than the evidence. He only uses the pretense of science to support his preconceived notions. Many scientists, on the other hand, have overturned even their own theories, because the essence of science is to go where the evidence leads you.

Spirituality And Science Combined

It seems that spirituality and science contradict one another, but this would only be true if all spirituality was based on religious beliefs. Spirituality, though, can be seeking higher levels of experience, asking the deepest questions, and seeking the true "self," which in no way makes it contrary to science. In fact, since science is such a productive method of discovering new truths, it can be used for spiritual exploration and discovery.

I a belief in God contrary to science? Not so long as it is based on experience rather than faith, and it is open to change. Spiritual systems of beliefs can be a convenient way of organizing and using our knowledge and experience, like many other scientific theories or paradigms. To be scientific, though, they must be open to change.

If prayer brings you peace of mind, why not pray? When the evidence shows it to be a phenomenon involving brain chemicals, why not accept that too? It is scientific spirituality, by the way, that has lead to the technology of brain wave entrainment. Now you can buy CDs that give you the same spiritual experiences as religious meditators.

Being spiritual then, can mean forever seeking higher levels of experience, and looking for the answers to the deepest questions. Science help in this quest. Since every answer raises even deeper questions, there is no extinguishment of spirituality by way of science. If spirituality is the quest, then science may be the most effective means of continuing it.

Steve Gillman has been exploring new ideas for decades. Visit his site for invention ideas, business ideas, story ideas, political and economic theories, deep thoughts, and more. Get a free gift too: New Ideas (http://www.999ideas.com)

Spirituality in 21st Century Organizations - Nu Leadership Series

“In the past a leader was a boss. Today's leaders must be partners with their people... they no longer can lead solely based on positional power.”
Ken Blanchard

Organizations must understand what spirituality means in the workplace for employees. After the September 11th terrorist attacks, it was obvious that businesses and public organizations were vulnerable. People lost jobs and were forced to change their lifestyles. Yet the aftermath of such tragedies has produced a spiritual void in America’s workplace. What is the catalysis for creating this new cultural shift in America’s workplaces?

Some may blame the impersonal outcome of the Industrial Age. Essentially, 9/11 exposed this emerging trend of workers who are seeking meaning in the workplace. However, today’s managers are not ready for the workforce windfall. Therefore, understanding this emerging value is critical to organizational leaders.

Today’s workers consider spiritual fulfillment a valuable commodity in their work environments. Many organizations would prefer to stay away from religious connotations. However, many workers desire a more meaningful existence, at work and home. Ashar and Lane-Maher, authors of Success and Spirituality in the New Business Paradigm, maintain that the workforce has an aspiration for something more than employment. This desire has been commonly called spirituality. However, critics argue that spirituality in the workplace could possibly open businesses to litigation for discrimination.

Clearly, workplace spirituality runs counter to “good old” capitalism. Obviously, these critics miss the intent of this spiritual movement. This concept is not about organized religion but recognizing the reality that people want to meet their inner desires by having meaningful work. This phenomenon will continue to grow in organizations as managers neglect to meet employees’ spiritual needs.

References:

Ashar, H. & Lane-Maher, M. (2004). Success and spirituality in the new business paradigm. Journal of Management Inquiry, 13(3), 249-260.

Gibson, J., Ivancevich, J., Donnelly, J., & Konopaske, R. (2006). Organizations: Behavior, Structure, Processes. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Youth With A Mission (2002). Spiritual Formation in the Workplace: God’s Spirit at Work. Received on September 2, 2006, from http:www.scruples.org/web/articles/Spiritual%20Formation%20at%20Work.htm

© 2006 by Daryl D. Green

Daryl D. Green has published over 100 articles in the field of decision-making (personal and organizational), leadership, and organizational behavior. Mr. Green is also the author of two acclaimed books, Awakening the Talents Within and My Cup Runneth Over. For more information,visit his website at http://www.darylgreen.org.

Emotional Awareness Through Yoga Spirituality

When you think of spirituality, remember that being spiritual is not an act of reaching something outside of you. Your spirit is within you, as your breath and as yourself. It is the spirit in you that pulses through you while animating you without failing in its support for you.

With spirituality, you are reminded everyday that you are connected to the universal pulse of life. And it is with yoga and spirituality that you find it possible for you to dissolve any crust you have around your heart so that you can experience and relish the radiance of spirituality.

The actual relationship between yoga and spirituality can be understood when you realize that breathing is an important exchange of matter and energy in the universe. Every breath you take sees an exchange of carbon dioxide molecules from your inner body to the surrounding air. Even an interruption of a few minutes in this process can bring about irreversible damage to your body as the brain and body becomes starved for oxygen.

The heart is the organ that helps you with your breathing and can be considered to be the pulse of life in your body. Breathing is the rhythm of the primordial sea and the ebb and flow of matter and energy to your body. And what better way in improving your breathing and the amount of oxygen to your body than with regular yoga.

It is while understanding the important role that breathing has in mindfulness and healing that yoga and spirituality has found a linking between the two. It is through yoga and the many pulsations of the body that are emphasized on through yoga that you tend to get connected with the Lord, and the experience of being alive. With yoga, you improve your breathing stamina, and thus find it possible for you to have longer periods of connection with the Lord, and spirituality.

With yoga, you tend to start self reflecting and become aware of your body, your feelings and your surroundings. Once you realize all this, you tend to stay in tune with your needs and the needs of others. And what do you reach with this, empowerment. Once you learn more about you and your body you find it easier to promote your level of achievement.

Remember that 'knowledge is power'; so once you know who you are and what you can do, you find it possible to play an important role in what you intend to make of yourself. There is no fixed time for you to turn to yoga and spirituality to walk the spiritual path; now is the time for you to remember that your spirit is within your reach.

Once you develop a routine of yoga and spirituality, you learn to do things not only on a physical level, but also on emotional level. This is how you learn to integrate your mind, emotions, spirit and your body as a potential spiritual movement.

Today all yoga practitioners vouch that yoga has many benefits that include psychological and spiritual benefits. And with the scientific crowd providing sufficient evidence for benefits of yoga, it is the spiritual benefits that are most pronounced.

Different people think of spirituality with different views; most of the time it is related with religion and god. However in yoga, it not only deals with God but also with your inner conscious and soul. Yoga is considered today to be a means of reaching your inner consciousness as it triggers the energy circles of the body with which you can reach the epitome of energy.

So with the rejuvenation you experience with yoga, and the path you find to attain spiritual liberation and salvation with yoga, yoga is something those seeking enlightment should practice.

Darren Williger is an over-caffeinated, low carbohydrate eating, winemaking enthusiast who writes for MicroKarma.com, CoffeeZen.com, and PrimeYoga.com

Hurricanes and Spirituality

Many people believe that thru spirituality that the human mind and a whole lot of human minds working together can stop a Hurricane? Is it truly possible to stop a wicked Hurricane like we saw in the 2005 Atlantic Tropical Hurricane Season using your mind or a collective of minds thinking; Cool or Dissipate.

And thinking in the vicinity of the Hurricane using a map? Well, some believe it is and what if all the people in the entire country all at once decided to try it? Wow, what would happen then?

We all know that Human intent and will are a powerful force indeed. But can the power of the mind or many minds totally focused at the same time stop or subdue a mighty Category Five Hurricane headed for the shoreline to do devastation and destruction? Many believe it maybe possible and well maybe then we should try.

Maybe science may learn something that many people of super spirituality already claim to know? So, how powerful is the human mind you ask? And how powerful is a mighty Hurricane? Well a Hurricane produces enough power to make a Hiroshima Atomic Bomb every ten minutes, so we are not talking about a little feat.

Yet, still most spirituality folks believe that the human mind is literally limitless. If this is the case then lets put our heads together for the next big Tropical Hurricane before it hits. Please consider this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

An Uncommon Way To Define Spirituality

How you define spirituality for yourself has a big impact on your experience and also your relationship to this intangible dimension of life that we all long to know more intimately. On a very fundamental level we can define spirituality as everything that deals with matters of our spirit (or our soul). Each and every one of us have an aspect of ourselves that is invisible but still very real. In fact this invisible part of ourselves is the very essence of our lives and spirituality is about being connected with this spiritual part while being in the physical world.

We all have spiritual experiences all the time. Spirituality is not just about recognizing these spiritual experiences, but consciously seeking these experiences and to develop a greater sensitivity to the spiritual in life. It's about growing this tiny spark that's inside each and every one of us to become a more dominant force in your everyday life. By nurturing the seeds of divinity that's inside each and every one of us, you can start to deliberately work with the very 'laws' that govern all of life and the physical world.

Everything in the physical world emanates from an invisible source. Spirituality connects you with this profoundly and powerful divine force that's present in all of the universe. So often we try and change our physical circumstances by 'moving things around' in the physical world. The transforming truth about spirituality is that the solutions to our external conditions lie inside. The outer world flows from the inner world. When you are connected to your own spirituality you are connected to the very source of everything in the world. You uplift your world by first transforming and uplifting your own inner world and your inner vision.

The greatest challenge is that many people define spirituality by religious connotations and religion is almost exclusively based on outward experience and conforming to someone else's rules. Spirituality is not so much about external observations, but more about inner experiences. It is deeply personal and something that only you can truly define for yourself since these inner experiences are often very hard to fully express in words and explanations.

Since the seeds of divinity is already inside you (it is the essence of life), hearing the right words may trigger within you your own awakening to a higher level of consciousness. This is a spiritual consciousness that transcends the physical world and your ordinary sensory perceptions of life. From this point of view religion can be very useful in assisting you to find your own spiritual centre, but religion without spirituality can be very empty and most often it becomes an emotional experience rather than a spiritual one.

For the most part religion is riddled with superstition, rules and dogma. It's predominantly based on someone else's beliefs and experiences rather the personal experience of God within. It's a bit like wearing someone else's shoes - even if it is the right size it feels uncomfortable, but if you wear it enough eventually you get used to it until it becomes your very own.

One of the most powerful and useful ways to define spirituality for yourself is to recognize and nurture that divine spark deep within you. As you grow in your understanding of this spiritual dimension you will be able to transcend the illusion of everyday awareness. Ultimately spirituality is about enriching your experience of life and to see a greater sense of meaning and purpose in life. Regardless of how you define spirituality, it is that still silent voice deep within. It is your spirit and it is your constant companion on life's journey. It is your own personal connection to the higher intelligence that's present in all of life.

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Four Important Points For Planning a Team Building Activity

Whether you are a manager or a person in charge, organizing a team building activity is a golden path to fulfill your common goals. The basic thing about team building activity is to gain huge popularity and earn employees' trust and confidence. Why? It is mainly because of the fact that the strongest team has the capability of achieving the dreams and motivating employees to act in the desired manner. In case, you are planning a team building activity, you need to keep following four points in mind:

1. Educate Mutual Respect

In this world of fierce competitiveness, companies are doing everything that may provide them gains and profits. The purpose of team building activity is to infuse the sense of understanding among team members. Every team member must respect each other and do not let grudges enter into the mind. The team building is all about eliminating the negative feelings and encouraging the positive energy to come out.

2. Let Spirituality Come Out

Many people might feel that what spirituality has nothing to do with corporate events, however, in reality; the scope of spirituality is very wide. It is not only about religious faith or realizing the inner self but spirituality also includes improvised human interaction. Try to infuse a deeper value sense so that they can be able to help each other and make a better workplace.

3. Leads to Progress

The basis of the team building activity is to bring progress in every aspect. In team building activity, member interactions with each other and work in a perfect co-ordination to realize the common goals.

4. Brings out the Potential Leadership

Team building activity encourages workers to take the leadership challenges. It is all about awarding responsibility and creating accountability for a work so that common goals can be realized most conveniently.

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