084: Illusion, Connection, Kindess

1 Comics - 1 Poem - 1 Quote

1.

The Illusion of Self — comics and poetry by Grant Snider

From the Community

I have spent many hours over the last week going through

Grant Snider

’s archives on Substack, and I would recommend you do the same (👇🏽). He has such a lovely way of communicating the profoundness, triviality, joy and suffering of existing as a human being. There are no affirmations, no lessons or teachings - just a quiet reassurance that I'm not alone, and if I'm crazy then so is everyone else.

The Architecture of the Self

I particularly loved these two pieces. In my day job, I'm working with a client to develop a professional training course. Our goal is for each individual to be empowered to take responsibility for transforming our corporate work culture from one where we compete for status and resources... to one in which there is true connection, cooperation, and harmony.

For months, I have been working on how to communicate the 'illusion of self', and the need to own our individual and collective illusions in order to create bridges between silos - for the sake of organisational and individual health and well-being. In two comic strips, Grant has done the job... 🤷🏻‍♀️

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2.

If You Knew Yourself — a poem by Rumi

From the Library

If you knew yourself for even one moment, 
If you could just glimpse your most beautiful face, 
Maybe you wouldn't slumber so deeply in that house of clay.

Why not move into your house of joy and shine into every crevice!

For you are the secret Treasure-bearer, and always have been.

Didn't you know?"

- Rumi 

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I believe that at the heart of any meaningful and intentional change - at the individual (micro) or organisational/cultural (macro) change... is this 👆🏼.

That you, and I, are enough as we are. That who we think we are is an illusion. That there's nothing to prove. That we all have something unique to offer, and we're here to make a difference before we die. That that is being human, and that is enough.

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3.

On illusion — a quote from Chris Hedges

From the Ether

“The nature of illusion is that it’s designed to make you feel good. About yourself, about your country, about where you’re going – in that sense it functions like a drug. Those who question that illusion are challenged not so much for the veracity of what they say, but for puncturing those feelings.”

—

Chris Hedges

Painful? Funny? Both?

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🖤 THE MIRACLE OF KINDESS 🖤

I usually steer clear of current affairs and politics in my writing, and nowadays also in my day-to-day life. I had been quite active in various social-political work as a teenager and young adult, but there have been some subjective truths I've considered as I've grown older:

1. Political activism requires a lot of energy, and it gives me little back. It's not my path.

2. I don't always believe my own beliefs or agree with my own opinions. I like it like this, but it doesn't work well with politics.

However...

I've not been able to steer clear of the current unrest in Gaza and Israel. I do have opinions on the matter, but mostly I have emotions. Primarily heartbreak, powerlessness, and a deep implacable sadness. I have nothing more to contribute to the conversation, but I wanted to share this video by Chris Hedges and The Emir Stein Centre, aptly titled 'The Miracle of Kindness.'