Imagine that you do something purely because you want to, because you see the value in the act, not out of fear that something bad will happen if you don’t.  I don’t believe that humans need fear to be motivated.  I think that is a misconception about our power to create pro-actively.  It’s true that many are fear-based when choosing action, but we have it in us to rise above the fear and act our of the love and joy of creating.  For every action and thought is creating our world.

What’s ‘op-ed pieces’? I like the poem. I take that it speaks of control and acceptance and it’s something I work towards to be as gracious as the leaf. However, a person is more powerful than a leaf in knowing how to direct one’s course through this world. One can’t control how the world and the people will react or respond to my choices, but if one becomes disciplined and wise enough in choosing one’s own thoughts and actions, the world will follow. In fact, even if we aren’t disciplined and mindful, the Universe follows our example and as such, we have the world as it is.

Fascinating question regarding motivation diminishing once an activity becomes expected. I have certainly experienced this in my job as well. It’s amazing how a shift in context/control can make the same activity joyful or tedious. Ultimately, I like to think that joy drives me, but don’t disparage fear so quickly; it drives our productivity. Without fear we may never get off the couch.

Ideally, but often not successfully, I wish to dissociate/free myself from fear (somehow like Leonard Cohen did in one of your previous “perfect offering” quote). I think it is the misleading to ask how we would act if we knew that success were assured rather than how we would act if our pride didn’t hold us back. Here is a belated autumn quote from the leaf’s point of view:

A leaf was riven from a tree,
“I mean to fall to earth,” said he.

The west wind, rising, made him veer.
“Eastward,” said he, “I now shall steer.”

The east wind rose with greater force.
Said he: “‘Twere wise to change my course.”

With equal power they contend.
He said: “My judgment I suspend.”

Down died the winds; the leaf, elate,
Cried: “I’ve decided to fall straight.”

“First thoughts are best?” That’s not the moral;
Just choose your own and we’ll not quarrel.

Howe’er your choice may chance to fall,
You’ll have no hand in it at all.

I’ve read a lot of op-ed pieces in my day and you should consider filling a psychoanalyst/martha stewart/buddhist niche.

P.S. What is a Binukot.

Love your LC quote! To me, it has a very buddhist sentiment. Me and the Buddha agree that the path to enlightenment is to live in the moment and that a desire for perfection only leads to suffering.

The trick is finding that delicate balance between acceptance and knowing when to pick your battles. On rare occasions, you have to let the light in with a more forceful approach:
“Nothing worth having comes without some kind of fight
Gotta kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight” - Bruce Cockburn

Mike

Messages like this help amplify the whispers from my heart and spirit as I struggle to choose and balance the priorities in my life!!

With lots of love to you and your family,
Candice

And what’s up with transit fares going up in the midst of all the talk of fixing global warming? Bus service should be getting better, not worse!

I was working on my carbon tax letter again today and I found a good resource for writing The Man: http://www.sierraclub.ca/bc/publications.shtml (It’s link to a pdf at the bottom of the page).

Roar, snarl, gnash…

Life is hard, and I actually believe that there is no secret!