ENOUGH
Barry Lewis Green
Educator, Speaker, Coach, Writer, and Creator championing Character Leadership ... for high functioning Purpose and Unity at home, school, work, business, play and community around the world.
I am calling 2020 the Year of Enough, for more than one reason. While we might feel like we have already had enough of this year, I am reminded the year 2020 is an arbitrary construct of time. 2020 did not bring all of this any more than 2021 is somehow waiting in the wings with something different. What we experience, we have had a role in.
Enough
This morning, I posted on friendship with ourselves. Then I had this thought; enough.
We live in a world that sells us everything we are told we need. Enough. We live in a world that increasingly and overwhelmingly challenges our belief in ourselves. Enough. We live in a world that sells us that we need more revenue streams, platforms, likes and followers. Enough. We live in a world that screams out "misery loves neediness, and we have the answer for you."
Enough.
These days and times have taken much, in many ways. But maybe also they are pointing to our own learning on enough.
This morning, I am reminded of these words... Dost thou reckon thyself only a puny form when within thee the universe is folded? The universe folded within me. Hmm. Is that enough? Do I need more to be ready or worthy? Do I need more to be happy?
60 years in, with 40 years in leadership training and development, 30 years in entrepreneurship (nay 60, as I was born into such), 25 years in business education at college, 19 years as a Ruhi Institute Tutor, 18 years with The Virtues Project, 16 years around temperament and personality, 14 years experience with Dale Carnegie Training... and I am susceptible to the virus of "not enough" professionally, never mind personally. Enough.
But wait, personally. I have a beautiful, modest home I love throughout the year, with my gym and prayer room and all that I need, and more.
I share it with #bestlittledogintheworld Panda.
I have enough. I really do.
Yet, susceptible. We all are.
I have no kids, nor parents alive. I once craved family of my very own. Craved. Sought. Desired. Deeply so. Went through all kinds of effort to make it so. There is still a part of me that misses same. And then, the world tells me through ads that I need hair (thanks for letting me know Bosley), and less weight (I do need the latter, for my health not my looks, and I am working on that... for me)... and booze and gaming and stuff... to be happy.
It tells me through social media what a beautiful life might look like by the shares we all know are not the whole story. It tells me the 7 steps to better business and the systems I need for same. It tells me it is time to get back to buying stuff, forgetting the fact that an economy is about choices in how we spend and exchange our money for services (money does not disappear when we choose not to spend on that extra thing)... and it does not have to be on arbitrary consumption. We are consistently "sold" what beauty and success and happiness look like. We are told to devour life. It is incessant, relentless.
Enough.
Maybe being ready is not about becoming ready. Maybe being happy is not about pursuing it. Maybe satisfaction is not about consumption. Maybe "The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly action." Maybe the global goals only require each of us to bring our best selves to the table... who we are, now. Maybe, individually and collectively, we are already, all ready...
... enough.
Maybe my business is my business, and I will define its success. My life is my life, and I will define same. For me and you, I suggest here...
Practice the Five Strategies. They are about living enough.
Listen to Laura... and Andy... and Halestorm and Shinedown. They sing about being enough.
Believe.
Listen to this ambient music... to ponder enough. Take in this on 5 Reasons to Change Your Mind from Gary Vaynerchuk... living now, enough. Enough is enough. You are. I am. Live as so. That will be enough. Companion yourself.
Spend time with you, honoring your spirit, listening to yourself. Have a good friend to friend conversation within. Be your own best friend.
Enough with a world that seeks to define us. We are the enough.
That is not simply a mindset. It is a possible heartset. In all things, true character and unity matter. I surrender.
Whatever you do or don't. Let it simply be enough.
Truly, enough. As to all the "consumption driven calls" from without, I am done. Fiercely so. I am enough. You are too. I have my path and my work and my dreams. You do too. Mine are defined by me. Yours need be too. Is there work to still do? My God, yes. And work on myself, and things I do soulfully and practically need to learn. But I will not be "told" what I need or need to do or be. Here and now, I am enough. We are enough. We get to define where we go with that.
In closing for now, I remember J. Oliver Crom, then CEO of Dale Carnegie and Associates, say to me at a very fine Italian restaurant in New York, "Barry, can I give you a piece of advice?" I said, "Absolutely". He said, "You will never get it all done." He was saying, live and know you are enough. Thanks "Ollie".
I am going for a drive in the sun.
Enough said.
Peace, passion and prosperity...
Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy with Epic Engage
Lead, inspire, educate, and unite. Move forward together, stronger. My work is about bringing campuses, companies and communities together, moving forward stronger. I work with educators, entrepreneurs and emerging leaders to do just that. My work is about character leadership and education and its role in helping individuals and organizations build a better world at school, work, business and community. I deliver on it through speaking, coaching and development in character leadership and education. My expertise is character leadership and education. I advance unity in diversity by moving the needle on leadership and education that is high character and results forging. I speak, teach, coach, facilitate, lead, write, sing, dance, cartoon and create on that. In 1980, Professor Rolf Hattenauer changed my life. A highly respected expert in Human Resource Management, he expected much of us and he believed much in us. He was an educator and leader of high character. He was extraordinary. To this day and beyond, I try my darnedest to honor his spirit with my own work. That is another story. But I hope I did him service here.
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Launching this month...
- broadCAST Live, July 2020
- broadCAST Live, June 2020
- broadCAST Live, May 2020
- broadCAST Live, April 2020
- broadCAST Live, March 2020
- broadCAST Live, February 2020
- Justice Lead, July 2020
- Justice Lead, June 2020
- Justice Lead, May 2020
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