I do know this. There’s something going on in the world right now — in the headlines right now — that requires a new way of thinking for us, collectively. It requires our new letting go of fear.
I ask myself sometimes, what is really relevant?
What I mean is, of all the things one could write about, or read about, how much of it really matters?
The headlines tell us this and that, but so what?
People come and go, but what’s the point?
We have these friends, in real life or on Facebook or MySpace or LinkedIn or Twitter, but who cares?
I think all of us go through phases where questions like this come up. I think we otherwise try our best to avoid these kinds of questions. I think most of us are afraid of where they might lead.
They might lead to the question of whether our individual lives really matter.
Who dares to ask that question, really?
But, it’s precisely at this point that we are “only one step away from despair, yet only one step away from enlightenment,” as Eckhart Tolle says in his groundbreaking book, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
I choose enlightenment.
According to Tolle, enlightenment is “your natural state of felt oneness with being; it is a state of connectedness with something immeasurable and indestructible.”
The inability to feel this connection, he says, “gives rise to the illusion of separation, from yourself, and from the world around you.”
I choose to embrace my certain connectedness to everyone and everything.
More from Tolle:
Those who have not found their true wealth, which is the radiant joy of being, and the deep unshakable peace that comes with it, are beggars — even if they have great material wealth. They are looking outside for scraps of pleasure, or fulfillment, for validation, security, or love, while they have a treasure within that not only includes all those things but is infinitely greater than anything the world can offer.
I could quit writing right here. But I want to also tie this into my journey with Black Fives — the history, the company, the brand, the lessons.
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The same thing applies to companies as to individuals. Companies have to ask themselves, why are we here?
If you understand “The Power Of Now” then it is clear to you that nothing matters but this moment right now. History is irrelevant, and not real. The future is irrelevant, and not real. One can only do something now. One can only make history, now.
In other words, you cannot make history tomorrow, other than in a new moment that will be called “now.”
You can only breathe air now. Can you take a breath yesterday? Tomorrow? No. You can only take a deep breath now. Tomorrow will bring a new “now.” But for right now, we just have right now. Nothing worth having happens at any other time. Joy and peace can only happen now.
There are many amazing insights that “The Power Of Now” provides, and I highly recommend that book (or CD) as a resource to help you navigate through any phase of your life, especially through difficult times.
So, what does this have to do with Black Fives? I have to admit that I’m not always sure.
I do know this. There’s something going on in the world right now — in the headlines right now — that requires a new way of thinking for us, collectively. It requires our new letting go of fear.
So much of what is “out there” is based on falseness, worry, regret, attack, ego, resentment, illusions, inability to forgive, inability to apologize. All based in fear. When we strip it away, all of it, we’re left with only ourselves and who we really are.
That often happens when we lose someone, or lose ourselves, or when some other crisis or catastrophic incident happens. Only then do we stop to realize what really matters.
But why not achieve that level of enlightenment and presence right now?
I guess this is what I mean, in my clever, amusing little way, when I say, “Make history now.” But, cleverness and amusement are not the point as much as clarity and purpose and, most of all, presence.
What I’m saying is that I strive to be present. Now. I strive to make history, now.
I owe it to you. I owe it to myself.
Meanwhile, speaking of you, I feel honored and privileged that you are reading this- and other articles that appear in The Black Fives Blog. I’m grateful for the opportunity to write something you might read, and appreciative of your continued interest.
Thank you.
Yes Claude, the events of last weekend certianly demonstrated that all people and circumstances are connected. History shows us how.
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Beautiful words, Claude. Very well expressed.
I agree with you about so much that is going on today.
We are all being distracted in so many ways from our true beings and purposes.
From the time we wake up in the morning and turn on the radio and tv to the time we go to bed, in so many ways I have thought that often that “these are all distractions.” By constantly being fed a daily diet of what is going on in other peoples lives, sometimes it can take away from the importance of what is going on in our own lives.
I feel it is important to pay attention of course to what is going on in the world, in our country, in our families, and in our communities, yet at the same time it is of most importance to listen to our inner voices and pay attention to what is going on with us in our hearts, souls and spirits.
Oftentimes, it is true that is where we will find most answers. (Our higher selves)
I belive in the Now too yet I also love taking a look at history.
I like the definition of Sankofa which breaks down to taking a look into the past to see where we should head for our future. Yet like you said, it is true, it is our “now” that is the key to taking us into our futures.
I agree with the bombardment of negative or non constructive energy we are fed on the daily. I think that is why it is important to “flip it” and keep ourselves positive and optimistic or turn away or turn off the confusion completely.
Great post!
~LT
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Thank God it was not about Alex Rodriguez.
Kidding aside – thanks very much for these actually relevant updates!
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If it fits comfortably….wear it. If it’s said to be true, check it out, substantiate, satisfied…..believe it.
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WOW! Your blog post today made my MONTH! I’ve been very caught up in more “what was” and “what will be” than I should. Your comments made me FOCUS on maximizing the here and NOW!!!
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It was interesting to say the least brother, I really enjoyed the write up, but you know what, if we would see how intertwined our lives really are, and love is all that matters, we wouldn’t seek to grade importance, we would feel and know that we are all important.
To a certain extent, we are shaped by our enviroment, about what’s important, and a lot of it is built on the basis of fear, the fear of being left out, the fear of not being what others want you to be, the fear of being outnumbered for right principle, or even the fear of not being the in thing, eg wearing bling, having the latest this and that. Its our families that are conditioned to bring these things upon us, and if they are balanced and in tune with life, they will say what is said here, but if not, it can be a long road for some of us here to understand what is important and what is not. Perception plays a part and what’s done in the past, shows us sometimes what not to do in the future or what to do with our future.
All the same, it was a nice reading and I am glad to be part of the visitation in on the observation road.
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Thank you Claude. Wonderful words. I just finished Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth,” which I highly recommend as well.
It’s true we create our realities with our thoughts. And reality grows more and more amazing with this knowledge. The space between thoughts grows longer and observation can occur as they pass through the mind. Are they supportive of peace, or not? And we can let go of all that does not.
The shift in the exterior world is phenomenal. I watch as friends and family lose jobs and health and handle it with such grace. And many people in my world are leaving this earth altogether.
A relative who lost her high-powered job was never happy, always stressed, always sick. Though she panicked when she lost the job, she’s starting to see it as a gift. She’s breaking out of her old life and finding happiness in chance encounters. Where her old life was work, then rush through errands, she’s taking the time to talk to people and savor the experience of being.
The shift is happening! And it is wonderful.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on such matters, allowing this discussion to happen.
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This is what I talk about all the time in my business.
High Energy Life Programs, my business is all about connecting with one. I believe in God and enlightenment and love. But we all make up God, and he makes up us. If we don’t love we don’t connect. If we are all connected to each other through God than we can only love each other. Hurting another person is like hurting ourselves.
So once you become connected through meditation and prayer…. you will more easily attain your vision and belief in yourself. Nothing can stop you then.
So when you are on Facebook with vision, purpose and real concern for others it all matters. We all wind up saying who needs help instead of “who cares”.
Believe me this will also explode your business and your success. We want to move away from the “one-upmanship” of today’s society and get closer to win-win.
John Finn
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Claude,
Great words of wisdom.You are right, Now matters most. I believe history is reference point that we can us to inspire change Now. It is right Now that we must begin to change attitudes and perceptions about us and the world we live in. It is Now that we must stand and deliver. God Bless
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Interesting days these are. While culture lurches ever forward towards the individual, the ego, the “me”, there is, paradoxically, this growing awareness of oneness of which you speak. This oneness is beyond religion, beyond borders, beyond race, beyond beliefs, and even beyond life and death. It’s difficult to talk about this stuff without seeming preachy, spacey, or mildly insane, so I’ll offer up a real world example. You know how when you’re thinking of buying a car, say a Jeep, and all of a sudden you start noticing Jeeps all over the place. Now, certainly, the Jeeps were always there, it’s just that your sensitivity and awareness of them have been heightened. It’s kind of like that for me with this sense of oneness. After an awareness-altering experience several years ago, I’m noticing like-minded people everywhere–yourself included. Like I said, interesting days these are. Thanks for your blog.
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Hey Claude, whilst I agree with most of what you (or Tolle) say, particularly with regards to inner peace and focus on what REALLY matters in life, I have to disagree on the importance you assign to history. As such I would like to reiterate what Lawrence and Brian have already mentioned. Our history is anything but irrelevant or unreal, in fact it is an important part of what we are and and essential compass for where we are heading. Without having made peace with her or his past, one cannot make the right choices for the present and future.
Love
Carsten
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Claude and eveyone else who posted here, thank you. Everdyday I am blessed with your inspiration. I certainly believe in the power of one and everyday I thank God for creating me with an unshakeable optimistic attitude. I always believe that I can accomplish anything I desire, but I also know that nothing ever happens in a vacuum. Everyday I strive to be inspiring, optimistic, generous with all of my resources and most importantly ever greatful for all of GOD’s creations.
I too am a born historian and avid collector of all history but in particular African, African-American and native American history. I totally agree with Carsten about history. History is the foundation on which we all stand, without it there is no direction. History is the tread that connects us. History is what gives us our relevance and purpose.
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In his important book, “Luck By Design”, fomer Men’s Warehouse VP Richard Goldman discusses how the only time period we can control is the present. To that end, he suggests an exercise in which we tackle our day as if it is the first day we have ever had (free of baggage, doubt, or regret).
http://richardegoldman.com/ABOUTTHEAUTHOR/tabid/62/Default.aspx
It’s a great exercise, and conquers any personal “Bradley Effect” hovering in our internal psyches.
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Wow, I love it when someone discovers the power of being in the now! I’ve read and re-read Tolle’s books many times. Everytime I return to “The Power of Now” , “A New Earth”, or “Stillness Speaks” it’s like another deeper level within myself is revealed.
Thank you for your thoughts and for introducing this on your blog.
Blessings to you on your journey, Claude.
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Hey Carsten, I would agree with you but only insofar as what history can teach us — as you say, as a compass. The “history” or “past” that Tolle talks about, and in which we sometimes get stuck, is the kind to which we decide to attach our self-image and identity. So, in that case, it is not real. Often, who we believe we are is attached to something we learned or were conditioned to believe about ourselves from childhood, or whenever. These things we spend the rest of our lives attempting to unlearn, or worse, we never even attempt because are not yet aware of how that same negative conditioning harms us. It’s rare, I guess, but some people never had that kind of negative conditioning from earlier times in their lives, so this might not apply. But I think that’s very rare, because, for some, the “past” might only have been a few moments ago.
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Hi Diane! Thank you! You know, it’s not just the “power,” although that word is in the title. I suppose it could more aptly be called “The Need To Be Awake” or even “Evolve Or Die” or something like that! I haven’t gotten to “Stillness Speaks” yet but I will. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, reaching out, and continuing to shine your light!!
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