Little Red Wagon

In 2004, ten year old Zach Bonner went door to door with his little red wagon to collect water for the victims of Hurricane Charlie. Now, this inspirational 5th grader is dedicated to community service and has raised thousands of dollars to purchase school supplies, food, and support services for homeless children in Florida and Louisiana. He most recently walked 280 miles from Tampa to Tallahassee in order to bring awareness to the 1st ever National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Watch this inspiring video of Zach’s amazing journey and learn about how you can help!

It’s Just Business & Other Damaging Beliefs

So I had a not so nice meeting with week with a gentleman who was less than courteous, professional or kind. Well to be honest he lost his temper with me. It was sort of a shock to be treated poorly. I have created a positive working life and surrounded myself with amazing people who do not have melt-downs. So it felt like a blast from my past corporate days.

The interesting thing was I told a friend of mine about this experience and he said, “It’s just business. Don’t take it personally.”

Hmmm.

Now I am a fan of not taking anything personally so love that advice but really, is it ever just business?

This experience left me thinking I don’t want to have to work with this person. It also caused me to think that said gentleman was not as professional, mature or experienced as needed. It left me thinking this man really needs to learn some coping techniques and take self responsibility. It left me thinking this is way too much work even if it is just business. So it is sort of personal since the quality of our relationships in ALL arenas and what we bring to them do matter greatly.

I know people have bad days. I do too but I try really hard not to lose my shit on someone. I do believe past the age of five tantrums are absolutely ridiculous and always uncool. I also believe in apologies and self-responsibility. Where is that in the business manifestos of the world?

If you have worked in the professional world, trade-world, service-world – really any world at all, you have heard the term, “It’s just business” usually following by some sort of verbal onslaught or unethical action. The term is used often to justify damaging behavior either to others, the environment or even large groups of people such as indigenous displacement. It seems to give people the right to somehow disassociate from decency and courtesy in the name of business meaning currency. They no longer have the responsibility of the ethical guidelines we all learned in kindergarten. This attitude has created some major ecological issues, human rights concerns and just bad mojo for centuries.

Now I know there are times when you must make hard decisions. I worked for Fortune 500 companies and conducted over 13 rounds of lay-offs at one company I worked for. I always argued with senior

management that lay-offs could and should be done with courtesy and respect for the thousands of people losing employment that day. I did not always win and those years left me burnt-out and sad at what I had witnessed and by how I was treated in the end. It would have been GOOD for business to treat people ethically and kindly. Kindness does not cost money. It creates it actually.

Now as a business leader myself there are times when we do have to make tough decisions, speak to something unpleasant or say so long to employees who don’t work out but it is always my intention to hold the place of love and respect while doing it. We all want ease, love and respect in EVERY setting. It is never just business. It is always Yoga. We are always in relationship whether it is employer and employee, employee to employee or business to consumer. How do we want to conduct ourselves? What are we demonstrating? What are we leaving in our wake – chaos, shattered hearts and destroyed self-esteem or union, inspiration and upliftment? We do not become separate islands of inappropriateness when we enter the business world. And really where does the business world begin and end?

I have great compassion for the man who lost his temper with me. He is dealing with a toddler at home, he is up for a promotion and he feels way overwhelmed. I send him light and love and let my husband deal with him from now on. I also appreciate that it was a wonderful reflection of how NOT to be and it gave me a great topic to write about. So in the end all really is perfectly unfolding but I am also learned enough to know that. Still I think our belief, “It’s just business” is damaging and a excuse for bad behavior. Myself, I would rather not need the excuse. I want to ensure every opportunity is an opportunity for more light, love, collaboration and connection in the world including business.

Wishing you a week of magical “business” relationships.

Namaste,

Shasta

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Shasta Townsend

A celebrated transformational leader and a leading pioneer in embodied spirituality and Yoga, Shasta has inspired hundreds of people through her breakthrough methods for awakening and empowering your inner voice and divine power. Director, founder and senior teacher with Balanced Life Yoga, she delivers public talks, seminars and trainings on evolution and empowerment. She draws on a wide variety of techniques including Yoga, Shamanism, meditation, energy healing, coaching and the Law of Attraction. She is especially appreciated for her passionate way of allowing individuals to make sense of their world and embodied, holistic means to become the change they wish to see.

As early as in her teenage years, Shasta embarked on her journey as a spiritual explorer which led her to India, where she studied yoga, meditation and energy healing. She has studied with many remarkable mentors and she has undergone thousands of hour’s intense practice of meditation and spiritual studies. Shasta has taken every opportunity to become adept in her field through her own practice as well as through extensive training in yoga, group dynamics, meditation and spiritual counseling.

www.balancedlifeyoga.ca

Anger As An Ally – Revisited After The Riots

I recently published an article entitled Anger As An Ally wherein I spoke of anger as a “powerful natural resource that can not only be harnessed but directed to create lasting and powerful change in our own lives as well as the world as a whole”.  While I still firmly stand behind that idea, I am compelled to write a follow-up part to this article after the horrific explosions of community anger which morphed into riots witnessed most recently in England.

While the theories behind why such riots occurred vary from economic disparity, political, lost family values through the disintegration of the traditional family structure, dramatic changes in educational responsibilities, moral guidance by churches disappearing, and self entitlement rife due to social mores minimizing accountability and responsibility norms of the past; the one thing that can’t be denied is that these people were ANGRY!  I am not here to argue whether their anger is justified or what really is the cause.  I am here to point out that it is simply human nature to respond with anger to circumstances that are perceived to be an infringement upon their rights.

Over thousands of years we can see countless examples of people revolting and rioting against a real or perceived threats against personal or communal rights.  Is this a predisposition of humans?  If so, we have a certain responsibility as individuals and communities to utilize the power of the emotions and harness them in positive and productive means.  Whether this is seen through peaceful protests, writing the powers that be, using social media to promote change, or individually altering your behaviours through consumer spending – You do have the power to make change without burning your neighbours’ houses down.

For the angry rioters, it is sad that one loses what might have been an empathy towards their cause because of how grossly they misdirect the energy of anger.  I have often said one loses the argument regardless of how right they are as soon as they lose their temper or swear.  I am not saying it is an easy undertaking to remain calm when faced with injustice, inequality, or even horrific cruelty but this must be the goal of all people if they want change to work in their favour.  Without public support of your cause, change will happen – only it will happen against you.

Instead of laws to bring about more social equality, the peoples in these communities will now be faced with an even greater infringement of their rights through a police state.  One does oneself a disservice when over taken by the animalistic aspects of self driven by an uncontrolled anger.  So, as we move forward into tumultuous times of economic uncertainly, fear mongering, political maneuvering, environmental and climatic devastation, social disparity, and absolute uncertainty, I ask you all to step into the driver’s seat of your self.  There it is YOU that controls and directs your emotions towards positive and profound change.

Each of us is responsible and accountable for staying grounded, being guided by wisdom, and controlling our emotional impulses so that they may be directed outward in a beneficial way.  No matter where you are in the world or what it is you face, move forward with grace and courage.

Namaste.

Technorati Tags: accountability, anger, Change, economy, Emotions, empowerment, entitlement, environment, London Riots, politics, responsibility

The Joneses-By Grace Ste.Croix

          The Joneses are well known in every city. They are the perfect family. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have an ideal marriage; they often look much younger for their years. They have two beautiful educated children, a boy and a girl, who excel in school and are quite popular with their peers. They have great occupations, making comfortable six figure incomes. The Jones family set local trends for fashion, they always have the latest and greatest technology and their model home should be on a magazine. Actually, everything in their lives could be on a cover on a magazine. They are perfect. Not to mention, everyone else are always trying to keep up with them.

            Have you met the Joneses? You probably have. They are the local celebrities of your town or city. They are charitable, Mr. and Mrs. Jones have that secret for keeping romance alive in their marriage, and their children are stars in high school. Slowly, many of us find ourselves yearning to be like them, thus we copy their entire style. We find ourselves dwelling in our own insecurities: Mr. Jones has a brand new car, why can’t we upgrade ours? The Jones children always get straight A’s, I wish my child could just study more. My wife could be more put together, like Mrs. Jones, if she tries. We have all of these goals to keep up with the Jones’, but these local celebrities just seem to be a little out of our reach.

            To aspire to become a better person is generally a great idea. It can be the inspirational turn around that you need. However, aspiring to be ANOTHER person is generally the quest people take. You will never be able to aspire to be someone else. Even if you shadow another almost perfectly, it will eat inside you. Aspire to be a better you, not a better someone else.

            We must also ask ourselves why our goals are so materialistic. Why do we need to have a new car, like Mr. Jones? Having material items is a shadow for what truly is important. We should be aspiring to be more passionate, more kind and more confident. With those key features, we may reach the goals that we are looking for. You cannot buy confidence, passion or empathy. These are three traits that you are either born with or you work very hard to achieve. These three key attributes are what should be admired, not the glitz and glamour the Jones’ exude.

            Lastly, it is evident that Mr. and Mrs. Jones are not quite what they seem. Their bleached smiles and beautiful brand named clothes hide darker secrets that they try ruthlessly to hide. To be blunt, everyone has problems, you just might not know that Mr. Jones has a drinking problem or Mrs. Jones lost her mother as a child.

            When people achieve greatness they should receive a pat on the back. It may inspire you to achieve greatness as well. It is just essential that you are achieving the first steps towards your own path, not retracing the steps of someone else. There are many ways to achieve greatness and we each must guide ourselves a different way to get there. Without individuality, we my as well continue attempting to keep up with the Joneses.

Technorati Tags: appearances, Grace Ste.Croix, materialism

A Gift From An Unlikely Place…

I had the honor of doing one of my workshops (“An Introduction to Balance”) recently to a group of 21 teenage boys who were incarcerated at a youth correctional facility. The beauty of my workshops are that they are a bit different each time because of their interactive nature and the flow of the different participants that come through. What I witnessed that day while presenting to these young men will stick with me for a very long time. I had no idea what to expect or what kind of reaction I would get from them and basically was a bit nervous that there wouldn’t be very much interaction. What happened totally blew me away….

Instead of having a lot of silence and looks of “why am I here” from the youth, I found many very intelligent young men who couldn’t wait to speak and share their experiences, their regrets and their dreams. The depth of some of the youth was quite amazing to behold. Some talked of already having forgiven their peers who played a part in having them incarcerated in the first place. Many talked about how they wanted to go to college and how they were going to make it happen. Some talked about wanting to raise healthy families even though it wasn’t something that was modeled for them while they grew up. Others talked about forgiving themselves for the crimes that they committed so that they could move forward. A few made mention that they had separated themselves from their mothers or fathers, brothers or sisters, and friends to get away from their past of violence, crime, abuse and gang interaction.

I even had one teen tell me how he wanted to eventually be a youth counselor so he could help others like himself break free of their pasts and lead healthy futures. He told me that although he had no credits toward his high school degree when he was incarcerated, in two years he had almost completed his high school degree and would be able to start taking some college level classes. He then went on to tell me some of the pressures he is facing to make that dream happen. Apparently a friend of his and member of the gang he used to be a part of was recently shot by a rival gang member. The rival gang member was caught by the police and may possibly be sent to the same facility where the teen is incarcerated. The teen has received letters from the leader of his gang telling him he needs to take care of or avenge his friends shooting when the rival gang member arrives. He shared with me that he is really feeling a lot of pressure internally to honor his gang’s wishes. But for him to keep his “eye on the prize” of helping others and getting his college degree he needs to look the other way. I can only imagine how difficult it is for him. His mom is even hoping that he doesn’t go “soft” and takes care of his gang business. All I can say is wow…. Children normally look to their parents for guidance, love and good advice. Can you imagine having your parents tell you something that in your heart you know is wrong and that it could effect your life forever? I certainly can’t. Here’s to hoping that he does that right thing.

I left that facility after the workshop feeling blessed in many different ways. Blessed that I had a healthy and happy childhood. Blessed that I didn’t have as many obstacles to face to reach my goals and dreams as many of these young men do. Blessed that I had the opportunity to hopefully play a small role in helping these teens learn a bit more about themselves and give them some hope for their future. And blessed that I had the humbling opportunity to learn from them and realize what a gift freedom and choice is; something that they currently don’t have.

Here’s to hoping that all of these teens are able to turn their lives around and lead happy, productive lives when they get out. Unfortunately the odds don’t support my hopes. However after listening to many of them yesterday and feeling their energy and spirit rise in their voices; I am confident that some will. If a troubled youth from a violent and abusive past can make their dreams and goals come true…why can’t those of us who haven’t had the setbacks that they have make our goals and dreams come true? Something to think about…..

Technorati Tags: Balance, dreams, Goals, inspiration, inspiring, learning, love, optimism, overcoming odds, teens, youth

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