Image by Branimir Lambaša from Pixabay
Albert Einstein is arguably one of the most brilliant intellectuals to walk this planet. He also had a spiritual side of him that contradicted the stereotypical view doctors, scientists, and mathematicians have had unfairly projected upon them.
But what I loved most about Albert was his humor, and his unique perspectives of this human race of ours.
He once said, “A human being is a part of a whole, a part limited in time and space.
He experiences himself as something separated from the rest, this delusion is a kind of a prison for us.
Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
My translation…“We humans are all connected as one living breathing organism, and not separated and different from each other, as our egos would have us believe.
We have limits to this connection because of time, and the space between us.
Consequently, we are experiencing this separation as a normality. This is delusional thinking, and is like being imprisoned!
Our life’s mission is to wake up! And free ourselves from this prison.
We can do it quite simply…We must widen our circle of compassion and love to everyone, all living creatures, and this planet we inhabit.”
As a life coach, I am constantly helping my clients see that their ego is driving the bus of life at any given time. A part of them that has them believing they are separate from the rest, or their problem is unique, they are not connected/seen/appreciated, and/or that they are justified in their bad behavior, and everyone else is wrong.
Remember, really good coaching is about creating contrasts for the people you are trying to influence, motivate, inspire or lead.
That’s why I like the context of the saboteurs (see Shirzad Chamine Positive Intelligence) representing your thinking, and your core values representing your pure essence/purpose, or whom you really are.
Saboteurs = Ego
Values = Heart
At any given moment in time you are in one or the other. (Period)
And consciousness, “Being Awake“, is knowing you have a choice on which one you are in ?
Our job as leaders and coaches is to meet others where they are at, in order to feel what they are feeling. Sometimes it’s something as simple as fear or shame that hijacks a person’s behavior. Widening your compassion, as Einstein suggests, means being able to meet them in that fear or shame.
We are at a very interesting time in history. Stay awake!