In The Image Of…

Posted on June 4, 2014 by davesw

In the Image of… God. Does that mean we were meant to look like God? Or does it mean made to have the same abilities? No, I believe it means that we were made to have a similar potential. A potential to create or destroy, to be able to look at things and understand or figure out how they work or are made, the same capacity for love and empathy, and the same ability to help and connect with others.

Mankind is amongst the strangest of creatures on this planet, yes there are a number of amazing creatures sharing this world with us. Strange looks or abilities. Some who have learned to use tools, others who have adapted themselves or their surroundings so they may live in and or accommodate our world. But Man is the only one who has abilities that we have so often throughout history attributed to powers. Even though, as we understand them now they were not powers, as ascribed to by earlier generations. But as later generations explained, these were a person(s) abilities to look at a problem and understand the component parts of the problem and come up with a solution. At the time that solution may have seemed fantastic or incomprehensible, but it was really just us using our intellect.

Mankind has shown their abilities over and over again. How else are we able to appreciate and shape beautiful things, and be capable of so much good, yet be plagued with an apathy and a darkness which causes individual and mass ruination on scales inconceivable. Are these abilities not a part of our creation, in the image of God.

In life, all things can be the same or similar. If they are the same, there is no distinguishing them from one another. If similar, they are said to be close in proximity and or abilities and potential.

If, as we are told, we were created in the Image of God, would it not make sense to be created similar. Would a God want to merely have puppets on a string to dangle or dance around at a whim? Or would a God want its creation to be exactly the same so there was no distinguishing one from another?

Would a God not understand all the myriad of problems ahead of there happening and want to create and imbue his creation with abilities similar to theirs, but different enough so as to create companions. A creation that is able to grow and advance as its understanding and abilities grow? Amongst all the abilities attributed to God is the ability to empathize and help others by some means. To give of themselves so that others may flourish or prosper.

As mankind races into the future, the quickening of our lifestyle and the pace in which we live requires that we nurture our existing abilities, to understand, perceive, create, and help one another. Living a meaningful life is not about the goods we have or the money we earn, It is about connecting with and helping others.

Connectionz are what Matterz!

Access Your Potential

Posted on March 8, 2014 by davesw

There is a book that was published some time ago, “If life is a bowl of cherries, why am I always in the pits?” This often sums up, many people’s feelings. What’s the answer? It’s our self-talk, the banter that goes on inside our heads every minute of every day.
You see from a very early age we’re taught to be mindful, watch where we go, watch what we’re doing, how we’re doing it? Early on in our lives, we learn two of the most powerful words there are in language for us, “Don’t and No”. For many people these are the first words they actually learn to understand, say and recognize. Of course these are taught by our parents and mentors to help to protect us from things happening. Unfortunately, by learning these words at such an impressionable time in our lives we also learn to incorporate them into our self-talk, without even realizing we’re doing it.

As human beings we are capable of doing so much, much more then we ever think is possible. I am passionate believer in that. Each and every one of us is a mine of unrealized potential. We miss opportunities to harvest most of that potential every day. Opportunities happen all around us, all the time. We need to learn to recognize them and we to learn how to take advantage of those opportunities and access that potential within us.

Opportunities permit us to step beyond what’s been done before, they provide us the chance to challenge the status quo, to look at old things in a new way. Most of us have heard the saying, ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade’. What we’re talking about is taking what you think are problems, and turning them into something new and exciting.

So how do we access that potential. The principles behind what it takes to access that potential are the same no matter what career or industry you are in. We can apply them just as easily to our home life or anything else that we want to accomplish. It isn’t easy, and it doesn’t happen overnight. In order to have the impact that I’m speaking of we need to look deep into ourselves and ask the person we find there if they actually want to change? Because without a commitment to change, it won’t happen.

Basically, we need to get past what holds us back. I’m not speaking of the human limitations we may have, I’m speaking of the only true limitation that we all have. “Ourselves” If we can do that we are well on our way.

We ignore or give away more than half the opportunities in our lives, and most of our true potential lies at the beginning of those opportunities. “Every Day Of Our Lives”. When we see, hear or think about anything our first reaction often is “That’s great, but I could never do that”, or possibly we say “I could try that”, but then we never follow through. Then there’s the big one, the one where we actually start something and only aim at the middle. They aim at mediocrity, and they hit it. “Why?”

It’s our fears, we all have fears. But in general there are only three that hold us back:

1) the fear of failure,
2) the fear of rejection,
3) the fear of success.

Read the next chapter and find out more about realizing our potential. Problems and Opportunities

Listen – Understand – Reply

Posted on March 4, 2013 by davesw

Listen – Understand – Reply

To understand someone we have to listen…

“Holy listening – is to listen to another’s soul in life, a condition of disclosure and discovery, may be almost the greatest service that any human being ever performs for another.” ~ Douglas Steere

I’m an English speaking person, I know a some words in many languages, none really enough to carry on a full conversation. So when I’ve traveled to non-English countries I’ve found that I must listen to every word that was being spoken to me. I had to watch for non-verbal clues, arm movements, body and sign language even the voice tone and volume level, to capture some part of the meaning or intent of what was being said to me. Traveling really did give me some unforgettable lessons.

Although we may not always know exactly what it is, every person has a reason for what they’re trying to say. Sometimes impatience or distractedness on our part causes us to drift. Often I think it’s just that we are, human beasts… so consumed with our own opinions, that we prejudge what others are trying to say before they’ve finished. And at times even before we have our own clear thoughts about what was or is being said. We aren’t actually trying to do that, but our ego’s take over and we lose our sense of control. Even the best of us!

To be a better listener… you have to hold another person’s desire to express themselves above and over your own desire to express yourself. If you spend all or most of a conversation concentrating on something else, or even thinking about the next thing you want to say in response, you’re not really listening.

Instead of letting our minds drift in and out or thinking about what to say in response, try to actually focus on the the speaker themselves. Most people unfortunately are easily distracted by thoughts of what they want to say, sometimes they may even be a little exited about a thought they have and want to respond immediately so they don’t forget it. Other times they simply have their own opinion locked and loaded to fire off as soon as there is the slightest break in dialogue. What we must do, is really try to hold off and let the other person finish their thought, then let the response flow naturally and directly from and in response to what they has just said.

The interesting thing is none of us are perfect…we try so hard to appear that way, but we aren’t. Most of the time we just simply miss the point; that we are social beings and learn an immense amount from just being with and listening to others. Recently I read something that sounded very simple yet somewhat profound in regard to listening to people.

To be an active part of an conversation we must:

- Explore, what is being said in terms of the speakers world
- Respond, try to be very clear of what what was said, and respond again in terms of the speakers world
- Encourage, the conversation to be a back and forth flow, for each to understand clearly

Conversations by nature are two way, although there will always be some people who are self-centered and demand more. But that is not the intent of the majority. Most, want to have meaningful conversations, especially with those we care about. We just have little or no experience at doing this. Response thinking we must try and try and try again.

A meaningful conversation is about finding a connection where the potential exists. Often subliminal, but present nonetheless. If someone is talking the time to speak with you, they are trying to make a connection, and it’s more of a privilege than many may comprehend. More than mere words are happening, more than great or grandiose thoughts, we are giving and receiving a portion of life, through the time that we are with them. Honestly there is little else that can even come close to being so valuable a gift.

So the true essence of being a great listener then is to appreciate and cherish all the moments that we spend with others, for they will never again return to us. Give others your full attention. If we all try to do this, then we will make the world a better place for all!

Webbingz, Connectionz are what Matterz!

Connectionz Are What Matter!

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