Finding soul in the age of anger | Rob Abbott | TEDxRoyalRoadsU

it’s a great pleasure and privilege to

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]