Feature Article - Compassion, Truth and the Little Things That Matter

If you missed the last issue, please send an email to janine@syzergy.biz with Septeber 06 in the subject line and we will forward the issue to you.

I have come to recognise that there is a pattern in my life around the trips I take overseas. The week before each trip, I am reluctant to go. My life is smooth, my routine comforting. Then I hurtle myself into space, and am always amazed at the unfolding of events which occurs. Part of it is because I am no longer in my environment, part of it is because of the disruption to routine, and part of it is because I am not in constant ~doing~ mode. Another mode takes over. Very present time. Almost ~other~ dimensional. Then a confluence of events occurs that is completely unpredictable and yet from a distance, predictable.

The last 6 months has been a very powerful time of learning. I have learnt about capacity, or lack of, particularly in respect to emotional intelligence, human evolution, and our ability to look at truth. I have learnt that some people, for whatever reason, simply do not have the capacity to look at truth. They do not have the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual development or wiring to be able to do this.

This has been a very humbling experience. Why humbling?
As a person who simply loves every opportunity to learn and grow, (even those opportunities that are deeply painful I see as blessings and a privilege from the heavens), I had naively assumed that all people were like this. That all people have the desire and capacity to learn and grow. But that is not the case. Some people simply do not have this ability or desire. And I understand that this is often through no fault of their own. It is because of their history, their upbringing, their karma, their wiring, their education.

This has fostered in me the development of a deeper sense of compassion and humility. I have always believed that most people are truly good in their hearts. That core evil is rare. From this perspective, I can look at many of the actions and decisions of people in the world today and believe that they are really doing the best they can, with their limited capacity. Even George W. He is not an evil man. He simply doesn’t have the capacity. And the men around him - some may be inspired by self serving interests, such as fattening their own wallets. However many of them believe they are doing the right thing.

If this is the case, if our modern day leaders do not have the capacity to comprehend the events unfolding, what can be done? What is to be done with the crises we face today? And there are MANY crises. We as a mass of people are like zombies, the living dead, collectively buried in so much denial. Collectively do we have the capacity to make the changes necessary?

In my local world, water is scarce. Australia is in the grip of a serious drought. So bad in most places that no water can be used on any garden or lawn. And it is a hot country, so this means death and dry, and brown and dusty.

I go to a restaurant in Chicago, and without asking, I am handed a glass of water that is at least 1 litre in capacity. If I do not want it, or do not drink it, it goes down the drain. I find this shocking. Yet only a handful of years ago, I wouldn’t have blinked at the excess and the waste. And it is not just water. Coming to the US always makes me feel very small and fragile, a speck of dust in the face of this huge consumption machine that seems to be so insatiable, and getting hungrier all the time. It frankly terrifies me. However, I feel blessed to have the perspective given me by being a visitor.

I have thought much about compassion. Passion is from the latin ~to suffer~. Compassion is to suffer for. We at Syzergy have the catch cry “Radical Truth with Compassion”. Both delivering the truth with compassion and the willingness to suffer for our stand in truth.

Those of us who do have the capacity, who do have the intelligence in our emotional, spiritual, physical and mental domains, need to develop greater compassion. We need to learn to suffer for those who cannot. We can do that in many ways. First it is through understanding and respect. As Don Beck says: “To speak to people at a level that they haven’t yet reached and expect them to understand is the height of arrogance”. This is what I have learnt in the last 6 months, a deep respect and understanding of a person’s process. And the acceptance that where they are is where they are. Or, as Clares Graves said: “People cannot be until they are.”

And then, those of us who do understand the enormity of the crises we are facing, need to get together and take action, with passion and compassion. When we are not together, the choices we make in our own life, our minute by minute daily actions, count for everything. And there is some suffering involved, because in order to do the things we need to do, there is a giving up of some of our comforts. It is stepping into being hurtled into space, the great discomfort, the great unknown.

As Caroline Myss says, we are waiting for divine inspiration as to what to do with our life, and yet when we hear the intuition…”Don’t eat that!” or “Get out of bed and go exercise!”, we ignore the messages. The message to not have another cookie is the divine inspiration of what to do with our life! And yet we refuse to act on these everyday messages, because they seem too small and insignificant. Yet the little, everyday messages and our choices, actions and responses form the cumulative total of what our life looks like (daily!) and who we become as human beings. Those little, seemingly insignificant messages and actions are everything.

I see excess everywhere. Why do we need to eat so much food? Why are we such a fat world? Why do we need so many pairs of shoes? Why are we so medicated we can’t see straight or feel anything? On TV the other night a drug company advertises a seven night free trial of sleeping tablets, but mind you…they are addictive! And why are you having trouble sleeping anyway?? Too much food, too much stuff and not enough money to pay for it? Too much of everything.

In conversation with a friend we are talking about the health care crisis. Says I, “Well that can be fixed easily! Simple - people eat less and exercise more. We would reduce our health care bill by at least half”. But do we have the discipline to do it? Really? Tragically, no, we don’t.

If you are a ~save the world kind of person~, as I am, if you are seriously interested in contributing to solutions to the crises facing humanity, start with yourself. Lose weight, eat less, say no to extra water in a restaurant, get some exercise, take care of your physical body, get educated, read books, be open to learning, study other religions so you can understand, visit other places to learn about culture, recycle, think about your choices and the consequences of all of your actions, spend less and give more. It is not rocket science. It is eloquently simple. And oh so very difficult.

A few nights ago I went to see a great movie, “The Man of the Year”, with Robin Williams. A combination of humour and truth that cuts to the bone. Great comedians are great because they evoke the archetype of the jester, the court entertainer, the one who sees all, makes fun of all, scathing truth wrapped in humour. The court jester has huge power, but it is from behind the throne.
Oh, do I long for leaders to speak the truth like the character of Tom Dobbs in this movie. And for leaders who do the right thing, simply because it is the right thing to do! How we ache for truth from our politicians and leaders. How we long for them to set an exemplary role model, and to stand in their truth when they fall down. Not to deny, blame and justify.

This is the ultimate work we are committed to here at Syzergy. Seeking the truth, day by day, and building the strength of our convictions and the courage and skills to speak up and do something about the lack of truth and personal accountability in the world today. And to start, we always begin by looking at ourselves, and doing the work at home. Won’t you come and join us?

Want to use this Article in your E-zine or Web site?
You can, as long as you include this complete statement with it: Syzergy dares to care about speaking the truth with compassion. We offer our complete flag ship program Dare to Care, into organisations world wide. We also provide Just in Time Coaching globally. If you would like to have your organisation be one where truth, compassion, respect and care work together, please visit www.syzergy.biz. Be sure to sign up for our free newsletter for more artilces like this one.

Meet Corene Walker

Corene began corporate coaching in 2003 with the New Zealand ANZ Bank Talent Program. Prior to this she worked alongside Christine McDougall presenting the Dare to Care Program within the ANZ Banking Group in New Zealand.
Corene is a Graduate of the USA CoachU University Corporate Coaching Program renowned for training an international community of high calibre professional coaches. She is also a Licensed Facilitator for Corporate Coach U’s Coaching Clinic® - two-day leadership programme that brings the “coach approach” to leaders. And she is a Certified Trainer for the CCUI’s Personal Coaching Style Inventory©, a communications assessment which supports coaching in the workplace. A dynamic and caring woman, Corene is a powerhouse of passion when coaching and presenting.

Before coaching professionally Corene’s leadership experience included a background in human resources, corporate communications, and health and wellness. This setting has enabled Corene to leverage a solid understanding in the fundamentals of human behaviour and interpersonal dynamics.

She is well known for her ability to both nurture and challenge – at the same time. Having a strong vision for what is possible, Corene combines the best of leadership skills and her outstanding ability to focus on talent and people development. This supports you to be on the cutting edge of inspirational leadership and at the same time ensuring business outcomes are achieved.

You will find Corene living in Cambridge, in the heart of the Waikato, New Zealand with two great children, and enjoying the balance of life with friends, sport and the outdoors.

Resources, Tools and People We Would Love to Share

If you really want to explore the edge of the modern/postmodern world, then buy “2012. The Return of Quetzalcoatl” by Daniel Pinchbeck. This is a mind trip, beautifully written, well researched and extremely thought provoking. No subject is left undisturbed, from hallucinogens to crop circles to UFO’s. It is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read, opening doors of possibility I have never before thought about opening. For those brave and adventurous souls who do pick this up, please let me know what you think. Be warned, it may shock you.

Where in the World is Syzergy?

On my travels in the US I have been engaged in many fascinating conversations. I met with John Peterson from the Arlington Institute - www.arlingtoninstitute.org

In Boulder I have met with the Spiral Dynamics group, www.spiraldynamics.net, Don Beck, and Christopher Cooke - www.bethechange.org/uk

Yvonne McLean and I get to experience the Executive Coach summit together in St Louis.

From St Louis to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney.

Meanwhile, Audrey is back at the Sydney hub directing traffic and communication in Christine’s absence J. It is always a blessing and a curse to travel overseas. So many personal and professional commitments make it a challenge for us both, as I am sure is the case for many of our readers. We both hate missing out on all the exciting people and experiences we ALWAYS have when we travel, and we also both LOVE to be at home enjoying our family, friends and phenomenal Australia and New Zealand based colleagues. Everywhere we go we continue to develop a deep appreciation and admiration for others who are committed to being part of the solution to our human crises. And the most inspiring news is that these people exist and are finding one another all over the globe - Hurray!

The last 6 weeks before Christmas are typically busy times in the Downunder business scene, then followed by a very quiet January, the quietest month of the year and the time skeleton staff are employed. We look forward to taking this time to have our own break - to review and plan, and build for the next year.

©2006 Syzergy Pty Ltd    

Established in 1997, Syzergy is an international training and coaching company specialising in enabling people to speak the truth with compassion. Our flagship program, Dare to Care, has been delivered to audiences around the world, to great acclaim. Just in Time Coaching offers coaching solutions to organisations in ajust in time, innovative and efficient way.

Bring the power of truth with compassion into your organisation today!