| In simple terms, it
could be said to be "showing up"-
being here fully, in mind, body and spirit.
You probably think you are here right now, and if
you are reading this, your mind will be focused to a
greater or lesser extent on this web page - but
are you aware of any sensations in your body?
Maybe you are now - having been directed to notice
as much; but are you also aware of your
emotional state?
again, maybe you are now - your awareness having
now been directed as such.
How much of your awareness is focused on sensations
and feelings, and how much in thought? Has you
attention to your emotional state triggered a stream
of thoughts? When in your thoughts, are you thinking
of what you are doing at that particular moment in
time, or are you thinking of other things? like what
you are going to do next, what to eat tonight, what to
do on holiday, how you are going to get there and what
to take?
Maybe you get preoccupied with something from the
past; family history or how people misunderstood you,
don't admire you enough, don't value or notice your
contributions enough or see as you want to be seen?
When your attention goes to your body do you react by
changing something in the environment; not warm
enough-cold enough, light enough - not enough people -
too much chatter. Or the people are not doing things
the way you want them to, not calm enough, real
enough, perfect enough?
There are many ways in which we are not fully in the
world, and yet react to it. Our constant reactivity in
the world is precisely because we are not fully
Present in the world. The default personality
structures are a bunch of programmed reactions to
given events. Push this button, and such and such
reacts, push another and something else occurs.
Even now, my remarks may be having an affect on you
- you may be mentally arguing with the point of view
expressed here, thinking of all the ways this is wrong
- calling to mind established views of acquired
knowledge to contradict my supposition. Then at any
moment, somebody may refer to you in a way that you
dislike - or approve of, and that will further create
another reaction in you.
Don't take my word for it, only know for
yourself, when you observe yourself from moment
to moment during the course of your day.
Try this for yourself
See how long you can maintain your attention on one
aspect of yourself, like sensing your hand, or foot or
some other aspect of your being. Try it both sitting
quietly for say five minutes and then whilst you
are doing a particular task. Observe yourself over the
course of one full day - what happens? are you able to
maintain a level field of awareness - do you find that
you forget yourself - that events occur and you
react to them.
What do we mean by Reactivity?
Reaction is not just some kind of outburst
- a stiff upper-lip is just as much in the realms of
mechanical reactivity as an emotional outburst or
practiced smooth facade. None of these will be
"real". They are manufactured-hand-me-downs
that that have been programmed into your psyche - they
are not you.
What are the 9 obstacles to
becoming Present?
The way we identify with a certain
personality structure! Who we take ourselves
to be, our perceived self-image that we have taken
ourselves to be and conspire with others to support.
Reactivity is a result of others not supporting our
self image; of not complying in some way with the
ego-personality agenda.
The nine basic Enneagram personality types show us how
our ego has distorted the truth of who we really are.
What begins as an important developmental stage of
human nature, becomes the false identity.
It like a trellis taking itself to be the Rose, it was
meant to support! Instead of attending to the
growth our true nature- our Essence Self, we
continually shore up and preserve the deficiencies of
a structure which has passed it sell-by date. The
Enneagram is like a certain style or design of trellis
reflecting something true - the ego distorts the
design, and the real message. The warped facsimile
belies our inherent gifts. In the practice of Becoming
Present to Ourselves, our true nature blossoms
and is allowed to grow and we can be transformed.
Who are you?
The answer to this question can arise from
your continued Work at staying Present to
Reality - to know and question yourself
firstly, as the mechanical-habitual,
historical-reactions in day to day life, and then
secondly, curiously enquire through the origins of
such mechanical-ness, eventually to fall through to
the source of your being.
This is a quest not for the faint hearted or
judgmental. It takes Courage, Compassion and
Patience.
And above all Commitment
It takes your Presence in the world, fully
and unconditionally.
Why bother in Business?
As an employer or HR manager, what do you want for the
people whom you employ?
I doubt if it is just a warm body going through the
motions....
As an employee, what do you want? Surely its
not just a warm, safe space to hang around in so as to
gather a few coppers together for the occasional weeks
sunshine or new toy...
As an employer you want value for money.
For the duration a person is in work you would like
the whole being, active, vigorous, aware and focused
on the job in hand. Maybe then, overtime would become
redundant - an unnecessary waist of rest time; better
spent at home supporting future generations of well
adjusted human beings.
As employee, what do you get? How
about a greater sense of purpose, mission in life,
validation, self-esteem, richer relationships, less
stress, greater enjoyment of living, and a sense of
well being?
Is this and more, at all possible or is it some
deluded utopian concept?
You decide - but not based on your habitual
perceptions, second-hand-ideas and hand me down
values.
Awaken - practice Presence, and decide for yourself
which you really prefer! |
