it’s a great pleasure and privilege to be with you today to talk to you about
be with you today to talk to you about
be with you today to talk to you about how we find soul in the age of anger and
how we find soul in the age of anger and
how we find soul in the age of anger and if you think that sounds like an
if you think that sounds like an
if you think that sounds like an esoteric pursuit I assure you it’s not
esoteric pursuit I assure you it’s not
esoteric pursuit I assure you it’s not it’s very practical and might even be
it’s very practical and might even be
it’s very practical and might even be essential to navigate these times in
essential to navigate these times in
essential to navigate these times in which we find ourselves now as I try to
which we find ourselves now as I try to
which we find ourselves now as I try to convince you of that contention I’d like
convince you of that contention I’d like
convince you of that contention I’d like to invite you to hold a question for me
to invite you to hold a question for me
to invite you to hold a question for me in your mind what is the story of the
in your mind what is the story of the
in your mind what is the story of the life you are living right now and is
life you are living right now and is
life you are living right now and is that story the fullest expression of
that story the fullest expression of
that story the fullest expression of your unique genius your deepest sense of
your unique genius your deepest sense of
your unique genius your deepest sense of meaning and purpose and identity I’ll
meaning and purpose and identity I’ll
meaning and purpose and identity I’ll return to that question in a few minutes
the u.s. presidential election last year
the u.s. presidential election last year was nothing less than a political
was nothing less than a political
was nothing less than a political earthquake and ever since it’s become
earthquake and ever since it’s become
earthquake and ever since it’s become popular to speak of the age of Trump I
popular to speak of the age of Trump I
popular to speak of the age of Trump I get the sentiment but the catch phrase
get the sentiment but the catch phrase
get the sentiment but the catch phrase misses a larger and much more compelling
misses a larger and much more compelling
misses a larger and much more compelling point modern Western culture has been
point modern Western culture has been
point modern Western culture has been racing toward a psychological and
racing toward a psychological and
racing toward a psychological and spiritual crisis for many years a crisis
spiritual crisis for many years a crisis
spiritual crisis for many years a crisis that is much bigger than the election of
that is much bigger than the election of
that is much bigger than the election of Donald Trump it’s more appropriate in
Donald Trump it’s more appropriate in
Donald Trump it’s more appropriate in fact to speak of an age of anger and how
fact to speak of an age of anger and how
fact to speak of an age of anger and how we not only survive it but how we dare
we not only survive it but how we dare
we not only survive it but how we dare to find soul within it today I want to
to find soul within it today I want to
to find soul within it today I want to talk about the real causes of the anger
talk about the real causes of the anger
talk about the real causes of the anger that we see around us and how we
that we see around us and how we
that we see around us and how we transform the energy of that anger into
transform the energy of that anger into
transform the energy of that anger into a personal and social reinvention so
a personal and social reinvention so
a personal and social reinvention so let’s get to it
let’s get to it
let’s get to it globalization promised to lift billions
globalization promised to lift billions
globalization promised to lift billions across the world into the middle class
across the world into the middle class
across the world into the middle class instill democratic values dissolve
instill democratic values dissolve
instill democratic values dissolve religious and ethnic tensions to suggest
religious and ethnic tensions to suggest
religious and ethnic tensions to suggest that that massive experiment and social
that that massive experiment and social
that that massive experiment and social engineering has under-delivered is I
engineering has under-delivered is I
engineering has under-delivered is I think to perfect the art of
think to perfect the art of
think to perfect the art of understatement
understatement
understatement there may be well more wealth in the
there may be well more wealth in the
there may be well more wealth in the world today than ever before
world today than ever before
world today than ever before but there’s more inequity more tyranny
but there’s more inequity more tyranny
but there’s more inequity more tyranny and the costs of that wealth creation
and the costs of that wealth creation
and the costs of that wealth creation are staggeringly high people consumed in
are staggeringly high people consumed in
are staggeringly high people consumed in the fires of materialism individualism
the fires of materialism individualism
the fires of materialism individualism hyper competition over complication
hyper competition over complication
hyper competition over complication overwork and massive amounts of debt and
overwork and massive amounts of debt and
overwork and massive amounts of debt and anger expressed in a variety of ways
anger expressed in a variety of ways
anger expressed in a variety of ways anxiety worry confusion burnout anger is
anxiety worry confusion burnout anger is
anxiety worry confusion burnout anger is the result this is what we see in our
the result this is what we see in our
the result this is what we see in our families in our neighborhoods in our
families in our neighborhoods in our
families in our neighborhoods in our communities conventional wisdom would
communities conventional wisdom would
communities conventional wisdom would hold that most of these people are
hold that most of these people are
hold that most of these people are depressed that’s not true antidepressant
depressed that’s not true antidepressant
depressed that’s not true antidepressant drugs have less than 30 percent success
drugs have less than 30 percent success
drugs have less than 30 percent success rate precisely because the majority of
rate precisely because the majority of
rate precisely because the majority of people with a diagnosis of depression
people with a diagnosis of depression
people with a diagnosis of depression they’re actually suffering from
they’re actually suffering from
they’re actually suffering from something else demoralisation a
something else demoralisation a
something else demoralisation a condition unresponsive to drugs there’s
condition unresponsive to drugs there’s
condition unresponsive to drugs there’s no easy quick medicated fix here
no easy quick medicated fix here
no easy quick medicated fix here demoralisation is to take away someone’s
demoralisation is to take away someone’s
demoralisation is to take away someone’s spirit their courage to destroy their
spirit their courage to destroy their
spirit their courage to destroy their morale historically this was applied to
morale historically this was applied to
morale historically this was applied to very specific situations diagnosis of a
very specific situations diagnosis of a
very specific situations diagnosis of a terminal illness survival in a prisoner
terminal illness survival in a prisoner
terminal illness survival in a prisoner of war camp for example but there is a
of war camp for example but there is a
of war camp for example but there is a cultural variety that is expressing
cultural variety that is expressing
cultural variety that is expressing itself right now as a psychological and
itself right now as a psychological and
itself right now as a psychological and spiritual crisis in which seemingly
spiritual crisis in which seemingly
spiritual crisis in which seemingly normal people like you and me begin to
normal people like you and me begin to
normal people like you and me begin to question
question
question the assumptions underlying the way we
the assumptions underlying the way we
the assumptions underlying the way we live work and play and in particular our
live work and play and in particular our
live work and play and in particular our allegiance to materialism consumerism
allegiance to materialism consumerism
allegiance to materialism consumerism and the market the resulting feeling of
and the market the resulting feeling of
and the market the resulting feeling of being forsaken on the wrong life path is
being forsaken on the wrong life path is
being forsaken on the wrong life path is commonly seen to be depression but it’s
commonly seen to be depression but it’s
commonly seen to be depression but it’s actually demoralisation I speak from
actually demoralisation I speak from
actually demoralisation I speak from experience for most of my professional
experience for most of my professional
experience for most of my professional career I’ve been self-employed as a
career I’ve been self-employed as a
career I’ve been self-employed as a management consultant I saw myself as a
management consultant I saw myself as a
management consultant I saw myself as a hotshot I went to the airport on Sunday
hotshot I went to the airport on Sunday
hotshot I went to the airport on Sunday afternoon returned Thursday night
afternoon returned Thursday night
afternoon returned Thursday night boasted about the places I’d being the
boasted about the places I’d being the
boasted about the places I’d being the work I was doing I was well-paid and I
work I was doing I was well-paid and I
work I was doing I was well-paid and I spent most of what I earned on beautiful
spent most of what I earned on beautiful
spent most of what I earned on beautiful things homes clothes vacations material
things homes clothes vacations material
things homes clothes vacations material things that I wore as a badge of honor
things that I wore as a badge of honor
things that I wore as a badge of honor they were the markers of my identity and
they were the markers of my identity and
they were the markers of my identity and my success my membership in a very
my success my membership in a very
my success my membership in a very particular tribe one day my largest and
particular tribe one day my largest and
particular tribe one day my largest and most important client terminated my
most important client terminated my
most important client terminated my retainer interestingly at the same time
retainer interestingly at the same time
retainer interestingly at the same time all of my other work disappeared too I
wasn’t worried I’m a talented and
wasn’t worried I’m a talented and resilient guy and there’s always been
resilient guy and there’s always been
resilient guy and there’s always been somebody ready to hire me not this time
somebody ready to hire me not this time
somebody ready to hire me not this time there was no new work to replace the old
there was no new work to replace the old
there was no new work to replace the old and no income I kept the fear that day
and no income I kept the fear that day
and no income I kept the fear that day initially with a financial cushion I’d
initially with a financial cushion I’d
initially with a financial cushion I’d set aside but I burned through that
set aside but I burned through that
set aside but I burned through that pretty quickly and I began to notice
pretty quickly and I began to notice
pretty quickly and I began to notice some pretty disturbing things about me
some pretty disturbing things about me
some pretty disturbing things about me and the life I’d been living the levels
and the life I’d been living the levels
and the life I’d been living the levels of real intimacy trust and friendship in
of real intimacy trust and friendship in
of real intimacy trust and friendship in my life
my life
my life shockingly low I’ve been sleepwalking
shockingly low I’ve been sleepwalking
shockingly low I’ve been sleepwalking through my life materially successful
through my life materially successful
through my life materially successful but emotionally adrift from myself and
but emotionally adrift from myself and
but emotionally adrift from myself and others and I also had to own the fact
others and I also had to own the fact
others and I also had to own the fact that I was susceptible to lying hiding
that I was susceptible to lying hiding
that I was susceptible to lying hiding not being open or transparent with the
not being open or transparent with the
not being open or transparent with the people in my life a manipulator and I
people in my life a manipulator and I
people in my life a manipulator and I was especially susceptible to the siren
was especially susceptible to the siren
was especially susceptible to the siren call of advertising I bought all kinds
call of advertising I bought all kinds
call of advertising I bought all kinds of I didn’t need but it made me
of I didn’t need but it made me
of I didn’t need but it made me feel good for a while I called it retail
feel good for a while I called it retail
feel good for a while I called it retail therapy perhaps a few of you can relate
therapy perhaps a few of you can relate
therapy perhaps a few of you can relate to the notion of retail therapy as time
to the notion of retail therapy as time
to the notion of retail therapy as time went on and no new work appeared the
went on and no new work appeared the
went on and no new work appeared the fear and the anger really started to
fear and the anger really started to
fear and the anger really started to assert itself biases happening to me how
assert itself biases happening to me how
assert itself biases happening to me how long can I last what will I do if I
long can I last what will I do if I
long can I last what will I do if I can’t get work and most especially for
can’t get work and most especially for
can’t get work and most especially for my purposes here today Who am I in the
my purposes here today Who am I in the
my purposes here today Who am I in the absence of the work that has defined me
absence of the work that has defined me
absence of the work that has defined me and the material possessions that work
and the material possessions that work
and the material possessions that work has enabled me to buy at arguably my
has enabled me to buy at arguably my
has enabled me to buy at arguably my lowest and most demoralized level I
lowest and most demoralized level I
lowest and most demoralized level I found myself one winter day walking
found myself one winter day walking
found myself one winter day walking deeper and deeper into a snowstorm and
deeper and deeper into a snowstorm and
deeper and deeper into a snowstorm and for reasons I can’t explain rationally
for reasons I can’t explain rationally
for reasons I can’t explain rationally I looked up to this grave vault of sky
I looked up to this grave vault of sky
I looked up to this grave vault of sky at the precise moment for Ravens flew
at the precise moment for Ravens flew
at the precise moment for Ravens flew low over my head in beautiful exquisite
low over my head in beautiful exquisite
low over my head in beautiful exquisite formation seemingly oblivious to the
formation seemingly oblivious to the
formation seemingly oblivious to the blizzard beckoning me to follow it
blizzard beckoning me to follow it
blizzard beckoning me to follow it spurred a quiet moment of reflection
spurred a quiet moment of reflection
spurred a quiet moment of reflection and yes reinvention I decided in that
and yes reinvention I decided in that
and yes reinvention I decided in that moment to stop toggling between
moment to stop toggling between
moment to stop toggling between self-pity confusion and anger and to
self-pity confusion and anger and to
self-pity confusion and anger and to begin looking deeply within myself
begin looking deeply within myself
begin looking deeply within myself beneath my personality or persona
beneath my personality or persona
beneath my personality or persona beneath the golden mask that I had worn
beneath the golden mask that I had worn
beneath the golden mask that I had worn all these years I began to see if I
all these years I began to see if I
all these years I began to see if I could perhaps connect with my deepest
could perhaps connect with my deepest
could perhaps connect with my deepest sense of purpose and meaning and
sense of purpose and meaning and
sense of purpose and meaning and identity if I could connect with my soul
Carl Jung describes this as the
Carl Jung describes this as the integration of the unconscious into
integration of the unconscious into
integration of the unconscious into consciousness the poet Mary Oliver
consciousness the poet Mary Oliver
consciousness the poet Mary Oliver speaks to it as the impulse to stride
speaks to it as the impulse to stride
speaks to it as the impulse to stride deeper and deeper into the world that is
deeper and deeper into the world that is
deeper and deeper into the world that is in here whatever you call it I found
in here whatever you call it I found
in here whatever you call it I found that as I began to live from this place
that as I began to live from this place
that as I began to live from this place of expanding awareness I noticed some
of expanding awareness I noticed some
of expanding awareness I noticed some things I began to form relationships of
things I began to form relationships of
things I began to form relationships of real substance and depth sincerity and
real substance and depth sincerity and
real substance and depth sincerity and authenticity my decision-making wasn’t
authenticity my decision-making wasn’t
authenticity my decision-making wasn’t coming from the longings or wants of my
coming from the longings or wants of my
coming from the longings or wants of my ego but from some other part of me that
ego but from some other part of me that
ego but from some other part of me that was connected to something outside of me
was connected to something outside of me
was connected to something outside of me something bigger than me and maybe most
something bigger than me and maybe most
something bigger than me and maybe most importantly I learned that the life I’d
importantly I learned that the life I’d
importantly I learned that the life I’d been living well materially attractive
been living well materially attractive
been living well materially attractive was too small for my true nature and so
was too small for my true nature and so
was too small for my true nature and so my life and my work has been reimagined
my life and my work has been reimagined
my life and my work has been reimagined reinvented and redirected towards
reinvented and redirected towards
reinvented and redirected towards cultivating the soulful awareness and
cultivating the soulful awareness and
cultivating the soulful awareness and aliveness of myself and others
what is Rob smoking soulful awareness
what is Rob smoking soulful awareness and aliveness that’s kind of flaky
and aliveness that’s kind of flaky
and aliveness that’s kind of flaky surely not relevant for the serious work
surely not relevant for the serious work
surely not relevant for the serious work I do in the world well let me ask you
I do in the world well let me ask you
I do in the world well let me ask you this
this
this how’s that mainstream status quo stuff
how’s that mainstream status quo stuff
how’s that mainstream status quo stuff working for you over complication
working for you over complication
working for you over complication overwork hurriedness debt there’s
overwork hurriedness debt there’s
overwork hurriedness debt there’s another path
another path
another path it’s a soulful path and the beauty is
it’s a soulful path and the beauty is
it’s a soulful path and the beauty is that we all have access to it soul is
that we all have access to it soul is
that we all have access to it soul is the basis of our consciousness soul is
the basis of our consciousness soul is
the basis of our consciousness soul is the fundamental building block of
the fundamental building block of
the fundamental building block of biology the fundamental unit of all
biology the fundamental unit of all
biology the fundamental unit of all living beings soul is expressed in
living beings soul is expressed in
living beings soul is expressed in attachment in love and community if
attachment in love and community if
attachment in love and community if you’ve ever stood on the edge of an
you’ve ever stood on the edge of an
you’ve ever stood on the edge of an ocean or the middle of a forest calmed
ocean or the middle of a forest calmed
ocean or the middle of a forest calmed your mind and listen deeply to the
your mind and listen deeply to the
your mind and listen deeply to the alchemical changes that are happening in
alchemical changes that are happening in
alchemical changes that are happening in your body you’ve started to connect with
your body you’ve started to connect with
your body you’ve started to connect with your soul we’ve all got it we’ve lost it
your soul we’ve all got it we’ve lost it
your soul we’ve all got it we’ve lost it or forgotten about it as we became
or forgotten about it as we became
or forgotten about it as we became slaves to the dollar but we’ve got it at
slaves to the dollar but we’ve got it at
slaves to the dollar but we’ve got it at this moment in history at a time when
this moment in history at a time when
this moment in history at a time when the world seems more illegible than ever
the world seems more illegible than ever
the world seems more illegible than ever before we need to call forth the truest
before we need to call forth the truest
before we need to call forth the truest most mature most soulful versions of
most mature most soulful versions of
most mature most soulful versions of ourselves what might each of you carry
ourselves what might each of you carry
ourselves what might each of you carry that is invisible to others but is
that is invisible to others but is
that is invisible to others but is nonetheless essential to your life the
nonetheless essential to your life the
nonetheless essential to your life the lives of your family the lives in your
lives of your family the lives in your
lives of your family the lives in your community what might you carry
community what might you carry
community what might you carry if we can begin to show up in the world
if we can begin to show up in the world
if we can begin to show up in the world from this place from a place of soulful
from this place from a place of soulful
from this place from a place of soulful awareness and aliveness a place where
awareness and aliveness a place where
awareness and aliveness a place where were not slaves to our ego where we’re
were not slaves to our ego where we’re
were not slaves to our ego where we’re mindful of civility and citizenship and
mindful of civility and citizenship and
mindful of civility and citizenship and a higher purpose where we remember
a higher purpose where we remember
a higher purpose where we remember ourselves as part of a collective we
ourselves as part of a collective we
ourselves as part of a collective we become the authors the architects the
become the authors the architects the
become the authors the architects the creators of the most extraordinary story
creators of the most extraordinary story
creators of the most extraordinary story for ourselves and the communities of
for ourselves and the communities of
for ourselves and the communities of which were a part we also incidentally
which were a part we also incidentally
which were a part we also incidentally we become the antidote to the age of
we become the antidote to the age of
we become the antidote to the age of anger so I want to return now to that
anger so I want to return now to that
anger so I want to return now to that question I asked you to hold in your
question I asked you to hold in your
question I asked you to hold in your minds what is the story of your life
minds what is the story of your life
minds what is the story of your life that you’re living right now and is that
that you’re living right now and is that
that you’re living right now and is that the fullest expression of your unique
the fullest expression of your unique
the fullest expression of your unique meaning purpose and identity and my
meaning purpose and identity and my
meaning purpose and identity and my recommendation to you my call to action
recommendation to you my call to action
recommendation to you my call to action for all of you is to create some quiet
for all of you is to create some quiet
for all of you is to create some quiet time in your busy lives it only takes a
time in your busy lives it only takes a
time in your busy lives it only takes a few moments but create some quiet time
few moments but create some quiet time
few moments but create some quiet time it can be in nature perhaps but it
it can be in nature perhaps but it
it can be in nature perhaps but it doesn’t have to be the critical thing is
doesn’t have to be the critical thing is
doesn’t have to be the critical thing is that you create some quiet time and do
that you create some quiet time and do
that you create some quiet time and do three things that will help you answer
three things that will help you answer
three things that will help you answer that question number one ask yourself
that question number one ask yourself
that question number one ask yourself how much of your identity just tied up
how much of your identity just tied up
how much of your identity just tied up in your job or your job title or your
in your job or your job title or your
in your job or your job title or your material stuff and consider whether
material stuff and consider whether
material stuff and consider whether there’s something deeper that might be
there’s something deeper that might be
there’s something deeper that might be missing number two feel into the levels
missing number two feel into the levels
missing number two feel into the levels of real intimacy and friendship and
of real intimacy and friendship and
of real intimacy and friendship and Trust in your life
Trust in your life
Trust in your life is it there does it feel genuine can you
is it there does it feel genuine can you
is it there does it feel genuine can you imagine something even more expansive
imagine something even more expansive
imagine something even more expansive and three dare to take that step across
and three dare to take that step across
and three dare to take that step across the threshold and begin looking beneath
the threshold and begin looking beneath
the threshold and begin looking beneath your personality your persona your
your personality your persona your
your personality your persona your vocation and see if you can’t begin to
vocation and see if you can’t begin to
vocation and see if you can’t begin to connect with that deeper purpose and
connect with that deeper purpose and
connect with that deeper purpose and meaning that unique soul gift that you
meaning that unique soul gift that you
meaning that unique soul gift that you alone possess that gift that is
alone possess that gift that is
alone possess that gift that is invisible to others but that you can
invisible to others but that you can
invisible to others but that you can carry into the world if we do this if we
carry into the world if we do this if we
carry into the world if we do this if we do this we not only survive the age of
do this we not only survive the age of
do this we not only survive the age of anger we find soul in the age of anger
anger we find soul in the age of anger
anger we find soul in the age of anger and we author a personal and social
and we author a personal and social
and we author a personal and social reinvention and that’s an idea worth
reinvention and that’s an idea worth
reinvention and that’s an idea worth spreading
spreading
spreading thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment