The Virtue of Cooperation
18 May 2010 Leave a Comment
in Cooperation, Self-Discipline, Unity
Cooperation: is working together and sharing the load. When we cooperate, we join with others to do things that cannot be done alone. We are willing to follow the rules which keep everyone safe and happy. Together we can accomplish great things. (www.52virtues.com)
Cooperation is one of those “things I learned in Kindergarten” kind of virtues…but even still…many of us struggle with cooperation in our workplaces and at home.
Why is that? I’m thinking that it is because cooperation calls us to put aside our ego in order to put the needs of the group above our own needs. Putting aside our ego is NOT an easy thing to do. Eckhart Tolle makes it seem easy in his books “The Power of Now” and “The New Earth” but don’t be fooled. It takes effort, determination, and sacrifice on everyone’s part in order to truly come to a place of genuine cooperation and unity in a group.
Even though it’s not easy to put aside the ego, it is certainly worth it. By cooperating we can achieve greater things than if we alone. Reflecting on the virtue of cooperation makes me think of that story with the twigs and how one twig is so easy to break but when you have 50 twigs bound together none of them can be broken. That is the way it is with cooperation. Together, we create a powerful bond that is unbreakable.
Copyright Rachel Perry 2010
Day 191: The Power of Realization
03 Mar 2010 Leave a Comment
in acceptance, Commitment, Courage, Joy, Purposefulness, Uncategorized, Unity Tags: Joy, purpose of life, virtues for wellbeing
It was at this point in the cleanse when powerful truths about me began to surface and I think it must be similar for everyone.
The Power of Realization is the power to know who you are, to be who you are, and to see that knowing and being who you are is of great benefit to yourself and those around you when you direct your energies towards service.
It was at this point in the 21 Day Consciousness cleanse that I began to hear the song of my heart singing the need to write. Not only did I discover that I wanted to write, but that I wanted to write often, write continually, and write for profit. After 10 years of writing for free, I was now ready to “realize” the gift I had and the purpose it could serve in lifting the hearts of those around me.
I ask you the same question that was so inspiring to me:
What strengths or talents do you have that make you unique?
If you don’t know…then it is time to do some soul searching.
If you do know, but you aren’t using them to your greatest capacity then I ask: what is stopping you from using your strengths and talents for the benefit of yourself and others?
When we honour who we are and do what we can do then great, great results follow.
It’s true what they say that there is only one of us and that each one of us carries with us one peice of the puzzle. This is very true. This is the essence of unity in diversity; this is the beauty of life; this is the joy that we all can have if we only are couragous to look within and see ourselves standing there and say, “Well, I”m not that bad, am I!”
Copyright 2010 Rachel Perry
Day 179: The Power of Presence
17 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
in Love, Moderation, Self-Discipline, Unity Tags: living in the moment, power of presence, virtues for well-being
Ekhart Tolle made this phrase popular in his book “The Power of Now” when he wrote about becoming “present” and living in the moment. When I read that book I could tell there was truth in it right away. It was one of those things where you just read it and go, “Yes! That’s it!” I love that book and go back to it often. My other favourite of his is “The New Earth” which doesn’t seem to get as much attention but was really captivating for me.
Well, today was the last day of my 21 day Consciousness Cleanse and I am feeling a significant strength in my ability to live in Presence. (Tolle capitalizes the word in his book which I find interesting as it connects it to the divine and sacred in that way for me.)
Living in the present moment today has got me reflecting on, “what virtue is being used when one is “living in the moment” or “living in Presence”?
What would you say it is?
If you have ever felt that wonderful feeling of being connected to yourself and the sacred in you at the same time, when it felt as though you fit in the world and were basking in light and acceptance then you will know what I mean. I discovered this wonderful and magestic feeling first in meditation and now I call on it often in the course of my day.
I think it is the virtue of Unity. Oneness. Acceptance. Love. I think there must be more than one name for it.
But this wonderful expression of the divine in our lives is a true gift that offers so much inspiration and strength. From it all other virtues become possible.
My greatest challenge today was physical. I came home tired from a long day of training at the new job and was craving sugar after dinner. The only sweet treat in the house are some cookies that I made and froze that are gluten-free but not dairy free. The last time I ate them they caused me great pain and discomfort for the next 24 hours.
I stood there looking at them thinking, “Mmmmmm…cookies!” And I thought to myself, is it worth it to eat them when I know they may cause me pain? At first I said No. But THEN I WENT BACK TO THEM!! And I had not one, or two, or three, but four! Oh boy! No self-discipline there. But it was a choice I made fully conscious of the consequences so there was a certain awakeness to the moment and a giddiness that I felt at being able to choose.
Well, that was 2 hours ago and I do have some cramping now but nothing like I thought it would be so maybe I’ll be alright. Or maybe I’m kidding myself and I will suffer all day tomorrow.
Needless to say, I lived in the moment of “Cookie Eating” and really, really enjoyed it. Now if I can stay in the moment and love myself through the pain as well then I’ll really be doing okay.
Day 156: Hope for the Future
03 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
in Confidence, Daily Log, Idealism, Joy, Peacefulness, Unity Tags: Faith, Hope, Oprah, self-actualization
This is what I wrote on Oprah’s website today in answer to the question: what is your hope for yourself for the future?
My hope for myself in the future is that my experiences in the future continue to reflect the inner peace that I experience each day. My dream is to be a writer, motivational speaker, and educator who shows by example and with inspiration that all obstacles can be overcome, any dream can come true and that we can achieve the awareness of self-fulfillment by knowing our True Selves, by knowing what makes us unique, and by using these qualities in service of humanity. That is my hope for the future.
Now I ask you — what is your hope yourself in for the future?
