In a recent conversation, a good friend suggested that if we carried one random act of kindness, the result would be wonderful, and it set me going ...
Somehow, this idea of kindness seems to me to be less than it takes. Also, the idea of acting randomly, when we are equipped to act intelligently does not make much sense.
Kindness does not happen among equals.
It's done towards the weak, the poor, the lower chastes. The lord may be kind to the serf, but the serf cannot be kind to the lord.
I suggest that we should carry all our actions with respect. And be consistently kind to our pets, baby seals and whales.
That would not bring Heaven on Earth, but would make for healthier communities. Which is the reward I would expect.
Fungus
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Loyalty
My problem with loyalty, as with so many other grand words is that I don't know what it means.
I wouldn't know loyalty if you brought it to me on a silver plate with watercress around it. Is it the same as self sacrifice? Is it being able to keep one's word without Big Brother watching? Is it the will to take care of your master's property as if it was your own?
You are not loyal in a vacuum, you are loyal to your master because that is the best way to promote your own interest. (And since you cannot serve two masters, sometimes you have to decide.)
If I understood A Man for All Seasons, loyalty is a word invented by the feudal lords (including kings) to exert control over their vassals. Loyalty had to be sworn, and the violation of loyalty (treason) was severely punished.
If I understood the Da Vinci Code, loyalty is a word adopted by the medieval guilds (including Templars and Masons) to exert control over their members. Loyalty had to be sworn, and the violation of loyalty (defection) was severely punished.
I also saw The Godfather...
Loyalty is not something that you can see, weigh or measure. It is a way you act towards something... for your own reasons.
If your organization's vision and mission are reasonably aligned with your own purpose in life, then you are loyal to your organization, and a good thing too.
Others, go through the motions of work motivated by spurs, reins, carrots and sticks.
Fungus
I wouldn't know loyalty if you brought it to me on a silver plate with watercress around it. Is it the same as self sacrifice? Is it being able to keep one's word without Big Brother watching? Is it the will to take care of your master's property as if it was your own?
You are not loyal in a vacuum, you are loyal to your master because that is the best way to promote your own interest. (And since you cannot serve two masters, sometimes you have to decide.)
If I understood A Man for All Seasons, loyalty is a word invented by the feudal lords (including kings) to exert control over their vassals. Loyalty had to be sworn, and the violation of loyalty (treason) was severely punished.
If I understood the Da Vinci Code, loyalty is a word adopted by the medieval guilds (including Templars and Masons) to exert control over their members. Loyalty had to be sworn, and the violation of loyalty (defection) was severely punished.
I also saw The Godfather...
Loyalty is not something that you can see, weigh or measure. It is a way you act towards something... for your own reasons.
If your organization's vision and mission are reasonably aligned with your own purpose in life, then you are loyal to your organization, and a good thing too.
Others, go through the motions of work motivated by spurs, reins, carrots and sticks.
Fungus
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Purpose (clarity)
Maslow lists 14 "Being - Values" that are appreciated by self actualizing individuals.
1. Truth
2. Goodness
3. Beauty
4. Wholeness
5. Aliveness
6. Uniqueness
7. Perfection
8. Completion
9. Justice
10. Simplicity
11. Richness
12 Effortlessness
13 Playfulness
14. Self-sufficiency.
Of course, he explains and exemplifies further. ("The Farther Reaches of Human Nature", A. H. Maslow, 1971, pages 128 ss). When we talk about clarity of purpose, "The Purpose" would be to produce "good things" that excel in those 14 values, and "Clarity of Purpose" would be the ability to see --clearly-- that we must improve this world (by finding and producing good things).
How do we develop our own clarity of purpose? Well. It seems that we have to go through the first four steps of the pyramid (including finding friendship, true love and peer acceptance), and then we can start self-actualizing.
Sounds like a quest for Princess Leia, Frodo Baggins and Harry Potter does it not?
Fungus
1. Truth
2. Goodness
3. Beauty
4. Wholeness
5. Aliveness
6. Uniqueness
7. Perfection
8. Completion
9. Justice
10. Simplicity
11. Richness
12 Effortlessness
13 Playfulness
14. Self-sufficiency.
Of course, he explains and exemplifies further. ("The Farther Reaches of Human Nature", A. H. Maslow, 1971, pages 128 ss). When we talk about clarity of purpose, "The Purpose" would be to produce "good things" that excel in those 14 values, and "Clarity of Purpose" would be the ability to see --clearly-- that we must improve this world (by finding and producing good things).
How do we develop our own clarity of purpose? Well. It seems that we have to go through the first four steps of the pyramid (including finding friendship, true love and peer acceptance), and then we can start self-actualizing.
Sounds like a quest for Princess Leia, Frodo Baggins and Harry Potter does it not?
Fungus
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