Joseph Campbell once said the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are and
of a lifetime is being who you are and
of a lifetime is being who you are and truly what an honor it is to be you to
truly what an honor it is to be you to
truly what an honor it is to be you to have this life to experience the miracle
have this life to experience the miracle
have this life to experience the miracle of it all through your eyes every
of it all through your eyes every
of it all through your eyes every struggle every triumph every tear every
struggle every triumph every tear every
struggle every triumph every tear every belly laugh everything you have
belly laugh everything you have
belly laugh everything you have encountered has led you to the seat
encountered has led you to the seat
encountered has led you to the seat you’re sitting in right now the late
you’re sitting in right now the late
you’re sitting in right now the late mythologist lecturer believed that
mythologist lecturer believed that
mythologist lecturer believed that within us our living stories many yet to
within us our living stories many yet to
within us our living stories many yet to be told
be told
be told I have always been fascinated with
I have always been fascinated with
I have always been fascinated with perception the idea that two people can
perception the idea that two people can
perception the idea that two people can look at the same thing and see
look at the same thing and see
look at the same thing and see completely different things has sent me
completely different things has sent me
completely different things has sent me on a lifelong journey to unearth some
on a lifelong journey to unearth some
on a lifelong journey to unearth some possibilities I often think about how
possibilities I often think about how
possibilities I often think about how this happens in our everyday lives
this happens in our everyday lives
this happens in our everyday lives how is it that people can come away with
how is it that people can come away with
how is it that people can come away with such a distinct difference in
such a distinct difference in
such a distinct difference in interpretation
interpretation
interpretation we see this in unrequited love in
we see this in unrequited love in
we see this in unrequited love in memories shared among siblings and even
memories shared among siblings and even
memories shared among siblings and even and things as simple as color the dress
and things as simple as color the dress
and things as simple as color the dress the infamous dress that is it blue and
the infamous dress that is it blue and
the infamous dress that is it blue and black or gold and white dress full-on
black or gold and white dress full-on
black or gold and white dress full-on debates crash the internet and people
debates crash the internet and people
debates crash the internet and people all over the world chimed in to
all over the world chimed in to
all over the world chimed in to passionately defend their perception
passionately defend their perception
passionately defend their perception each side thought the other was
each side thought the other was
each side thought the other was absolutely nuts
absolutely nuts
absolutely nuts when it was revealed later that the
when it was revealed later that the
when it was revealed later that the dress was indeed blue and black and it
dress was indeed blue and black and it
dress was indeed blue and black and it was the lighting mixed with the inter
was the lighting mixed with the inter
was the lighting mixed with the inter workings of the human eye and brain the
workings of the human eye and brain the
workings of the human eye and brain the camps were still divided people were
camps were still divided people were
camps were still divided people were still unrelenting and tied to their
still unrelenting and tied to their
still unrelenting and tied to their perceptions as a facilitator and a
perceptions as a facilitator and a
perceptions as a facilitator and a professor I have had the honor of
professor I have had the honor of
professor I have had the honor of working with thousands of people who
working with thousands of people who
working with thousands of people who work with young people and they do it
work with young people and they do it
work with young people and they do it because they genuinely love what they do
because they genuinely love what they do
because they genuinely love what they do it’s difficult and complex work and my
it’s difficult and complex work and my
it’s difficult and complex work and my role has been to help them to embrace
role has been to help them to embrace
role has been to help them to embrace their particular style and way of
their particular style and way of
their particular style and way of being and also to build connections with
being and also to build connections with
being and also to build connections with others one way I do this is by asking
others one way I do this is by asking
others one way I do this is by asking them a single question what is your
them a single question what is your
them a single question what is your legacy and legacy I don’t mean in the
legacy and legacy I don’t mean in the
legacy and legacy I don’t mean in the traditional sense it’s not in something
traditional sense it’s not in something
traditional sense it’s not in something that they will physically leave behind
that they will physically leave behind
that they will physically leave behind it’s an idea of sorts it’s in what they
it’s an idea of sorts it’s in what they
it’s an idea of sorts it’s in what they see what do they see as most important
see what do they see as most important
see what do they see as most important for young people to have a successful
for young people to have a successful
for young people to have a successful life it’s a proverb of sorts an idea
life it’s a proverb of sorts an idea
life it’s a proverb of sorts an idea passed down as a treasure and the
passed down as a treasure and the
passed down as a treasure and the answers are all different they’re
answers are all different they’re
answers are all different they’re colored by experiences the answer
colored by experiences the answer
colored by experiences the answer depends on whose eyes to give you an
depends on whose eyes to give you an
depends on whose eyes to give you an idea of the responses they generally
idea of the responses they generally
idea of the responses they generally fall into certain categories for some
fall into certain categories for some
fall into certain categories for some they believe knowledge is most important
they believe knowledge is most important
they believe knowledge is most important in life for others it’s the ability to
in life for others it’s the ability to
in life for others it’s the ability to have humor and to embrace life’s
have humor and to embrace life’s
have humor and to embrace life’s absurdities for others it’s the courage
absurdities for others it’s the courage
absurdities for others it’s the courage to persevere despite constant struggle
to persevere despite constant struggle
to persevere despite constant struggle and for others it’s the ability and to
and for others it’s the ability and to
and for others it’s the ability and to have compassion that compassion is
have compassion that compassion is
have compassion that compassion is actually life’s greatest tool now all of
actually life’s greatest tool now all of
actually life’s greatest tool now all of these are important as they create a
these are important as they create a
these are important as they create a bigger picture it’s just a slight
bigger picture it’s just a slight
bigger picture it’s just a slight difference in vantage point through
difference in vantage point through
difference in vantage point through dialogue and as we explored the hopes
dialogue and as we explored the hopes
dialogue and as we explored the hopes and fears behind each perspective the
and fears behind each perspective the
and fears behind each perspective the motivations became clearer and they
motivations became clearer and they
motivations became clearer and they realize not only did they have more in
realize not only did they have more in
realize not only did they have more in common than they thought but by being
common than they thought but by being
common than they thought but by being open and inclusive it made the work that
open and inclusive it made the work that
open and inclusive it made the work that much richer so how do you take on
much richer so how do you take on
much richer so how do you take on another’s point of view without being
another’s point of view without being
another’s point of view without being mindful we often get this wrong we have
mindful we often get this wrong we have
mindful we often get this wrong we have assumptions of others motivations and
assumptions of others motivations and
assumptions of others motivations and behaviors and we fill in the blanks just
behaviors and we fill in the blanks just
behaviors and we fill in the blanks just like the dress which can lead us into
like the dress which can lead us into
like the dress which can lead us into false judgements research shows that
false judgements research shows that
false judgements research shows that were not great at this all the time we
were not great at this all the time we
were not great at this all the time we construct our own perceptions based on a
construct our own perceptions based on a
construct our own perceptions based on a variety of factors including our past
variety of factors including our past
variety of factors including our past experiences
empathy is typically referred to as the
empathy is typically referred to as the ability to walk in another shoes we hear
ability to walk in another shoes we hear
ability to walk in another shoes we hear it all the time I disagree I think it’s
it all the time I disagree I think it’s
it all the time I disagree I think it’s the ability to see what others do behind
the ability to see what others do behind
the ability to see what others do behind their eyes it’s in your eyes think of
their eyes it’s in your eyes think of
their eyes it’s in your eyes think of your everyday experiences driving is
your everyday experiences driving is
your everyday experiences driving is always a popular one right you’re in a
always a popular one right you’re in a
always a popular one right you’re in a rush to work for the third time this
rush to work for the third time this
rush to work for the third time this week and out of nowhere someone comes
week and out of nowhere someone comes
week and out of nowhere someone comes and cuts you off and you miss the light
and cuts you off and you miss the light
and cuts you off and you miss the light you have a rush of anger and you mumble
you have a rush of anger and you mumble
you have a rush of anger and you mumble obscenities under your breath you try
obscenities under your breath you try
obscenities under your breath you try and get yourself together as you
and get yourself together as you
and get yourself together as you continue on your way you notice that the
continue on your way you notice that the
continue on your way you notice that the same car that cut you off way back here
same car that cut you off way back here
same car that cut you off way back here is now on the side of the road they have
is now on the side of the road they have
is now on the side of the road they have a flat tire now your perception of the
a flat tire now your perception of the
a flat tire now your perception of the driver may have shifted to one of
driver may have shifted to one of
driver may have shifted to one of concern or maybe even a little sympathy
concern or maybe even a little sympathy
concern or maybe even a little sympathy or maybe you just thought it with karma
what if you knew more about the
what if you knew more about the motivations or intentions of the driver
motivations or intentions of the driver
motivations or intentions of the driver what if somehow later you found out that
what if somehow later you found out that
what if somehow later you found out that they were actually rushing to biess with
they were actually rushing to biess with
they were actually rushing to biess with someone who was going to take their last
someone who was going to take their last
someone who was going to take their last breath or they were dealing with an
breath or they were dealing with an
breath or they were dealing with an unruly toddler with special needs in the
unruly toddler with special needs in the
unruly toddler with special needs in the backseat we sometimes have an empathy
backseat we sometimes have an empathy
backseat we sometimes have an empathy bullied we unknowingly seek out and
bullied we unknowingly seek out and
bullied we unknowingly seek out and support our own agendas even in the best
support our own agendas even in the best
support our own agendas even in the best of intentions it’s human we secretly
of intentions it’s human we secretly
of intentions it’s human we secretly superimpose our own ideas of how the
superimpose our own ideas of how the
superimpose our own ideas of how the world works and we are rubbed the wrong
world works and we are rubbed the wrong
world works and we are rubbed the wrong way when someone doesn’t do what we
way when someone doesn’t do what we
way when someone doesn’t do what we would do and how we would do it and this
would do and how we would do it and this
would do and how we would do it and this happens everywhere it happens in the
happens everywhere it happens in the
happens everywhere it happens in the office it happens in our relationships
office it happens in our relationships
office it happens in our relationships it happens in our families think of that
it happens in our families think of that
it happens in our families think of that well-meaning family member that every
well-meaning family member that every
well-meaning family member that every time you see them they remind you that
time you see them they remind you that
time you see them they remind you that that project you’re working so hard on
that project you’re working so hard on
that project you’re working so hard on is never going to make you any money and
is never going to make you any money and
is never going to make you any money and what are you going to get married are
what are you going to get married are
what are you going to get married are you tired of being alone it’s not that
you tired of being alone it’s not that
you tired of being alone it’s not that the advice is ill intended necessarily
the advice is ill intended necessarily
the advice is ill intended necessarily it’s just that it’s their perception of
it’s just that it’s their perception of
it’s just that it’s their perception of what happiness looks like what if we had
what happiness looks like what if we had
what happiness looks like what if we had action intelligence the ability and the
action intelligence the ability and the
action intelligence the ability and the willingness to acknowledge when our
willingness to acknowledge when our
willingness to acknowledge when our perceptions may need shifting to make
perceptions may need shifting to make
perceptions may need shifting to make that shift the work of Carl Jung and
that shift the work of Carl Jung and
that shift the work of Carl Jung and later Carol Pearson identified patterns
later Carol Pearson identified patterns
later Carol Pearson identified patterns of behavior that show up in the movies
of behavior that show up in the movies
of behavior that show up in the movies that we watch and the novels that we
that we watch and the novels that we
that we watch and the novels that we read but also in our everyday lives and
read but also in our everyday lives and
read but also in our everyday lives and the supporting characters we encounter
the supporting characters we encounter
the supporting characters we encounter every day these are called archetypes
every day these are called archetypes
every day these are called archetypes archetypes are distinct set of
archetypes are distinct set of
archetypes are distinct set of motivations and hopes and fears and
motivations and hopes and fears and
motivations and hopes and fears and they’re characterized in a way that it
they’re characterized in a way that it
they’re characterized in a way that it gives us some insight into what it means
gives us some insight into what it means
gives us some insight into what it means to be human
to be human
to be human archetypes gives us a platform to
archetypes gives us a platform to
archetypes gives us a platform to explore what others might be seeing even
explore what others might be seeing even
explore what others might be seeing even if it sounds foreign to us
if it sounds foreign to us
if it sounds foreign to us for example the sage archetype is
for example the sage archetype is
for example the sage archetype is motivated by seeking knowledge and the
motivated by seeking knowledge and the
motivated by seeking knowledge and the truth the jester archetype is motivated
truth the jester archetype is motivated
truth the jester archetype is motivated by bringing levity into the now and
by bringing levity into the now and
by bringing levity into the now and brings joy in our lives the warrior
brings joy in our lives the warrior
brings joy in our lives the warrior archetype is motivated by perseverance
archetype is motivated by perseverance
archetype is motivated by perseverance and conquering goals and the lover
and conquering goals and the lover
and conquering goals and the lover archetype is motivated by bringing
archetype is motivated by bringing
archetype is motivated by bringing passion and beauty into our lives it
passion and beauty into our lives it
passion and beauty into our lives it sounds familiar
sounds familiar
sounds familiar being human means that we have the
being human means that we have the
being human means that we have the potential for all of them within us that
potential for all of them within us that
potential for all of them within us that even though we take different journeys
even though we take different journeys
even though we take different journeys to get there and can look it can look
to get there and can look it can look
to get there and can look it can look very multifaceted that’s okay a shift in
very multifaceted that’s okay a shift in
very multifaceted that’s okay a shift in perception then becomes an opportunity
perception then becomes an opportunity
perception then becomes an opportunity for growth a moment to reflect the gift
for growth a moment to reflect the gift
for growth a moment to reflect the gift of a genuine connection or an invitation
of a genuine connection or an invitation
of a genuine connection or an invitation to play what I’ve learned from my
to play what I’ve learned from my
to play what I’ve learned from my students is that we have to embrace our
students is that we have to embrace our
students is that we have to embrace our own perceptions and share them with
own perceptions and share them with
own perceptions and share them with others so that we can embrace theirs by
others so that we can embrace theirs by
others so that we can embrace theirs by telling our stories what’s behind our
telling our stories what’s behind our
telling our stories what’s behind our eyes we build bridges of empathy and by
eyes we build bridges of empathy and by
eyes we build bridges of empathy and by you celebrating who you are and
you celebrating who you are and
you celebrating who you are and genuinely connecting to the people that
genuinely connecting to the people that
genuinely connecting to the people that are around you and the strangers you
are around you and the strangers you
are around you and the strangers you will have yet to meet you are also
will have yet to meet you are also
will have yet to meet you are also building those bridges so I’ll ask you
building those bridges so I’ll ask you
building those bridges so I’ll ask you what is your legacy
what is your legacy
what is your legacy it’s not in the wealth that you’ll
it’s not in the wealth that you’ll
it’s not in the wealth that you’ll require it’s not in anything physical
require it’s not in anything physical
require it’s not in anything physical that you’ll leave behind it’s in your
that you’ll leave behind it’s in your
that you’ll leave behind it’s in your eyes thank you
eyes thank you
eyes thank you [Applause]
”
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