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Archive for 2014

Awakin Weekly: Come Home to Love

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InnerNet Weekly: Inspirations from ServiceSpace.org
Come Home to Love
by Rick Hanson

[Listen to Audio!]

tow1.jpgTake a breath right now, and notice how abundant the air is, full of life-giving oxygen offered freely by trees and other green growing things. You can’t see air, but it’s always available for you.

Love is a lot like the air. It may be hard to see – but it’s in you and all around you.

In the press of life – dealing with hassles in personal relationships and bombarded with news of war and other conflicts – it’s easy to lose sight of love, and feel you can’t place your faith in it. But in fact, to summarize a comment from Ghandi, daily life is saturated with moments of cooperation and generosity – between complete strangers! Let alone with one’s friends and family.

Love is woven into your day because it’s woven into your DNA: as our ancestors evolved over the last several million years, many scientists believe that love, broadly defined, has been the primary driving force behind the evolution of the brain. Bands of early humans that were particularly good at understanding and caring for each other out-competed less cooperative and loving bands, and thereby passed on the genes of empathy, bonding, friendship, altruism, romance, compassion, and kindness – the genes, in a word, of love.

Nonetheless, even though the resting state of your brain – its "home base" when you are not stressed, in pain, or feeling threatened – is grounded in love, it’s all too easy to be driven from home by something as small as a critical comment in a business meeting or a frown across a dinner table. Then we go off to a kind of inner homelessness, exiled for a time from our natural abode, caught up in the fear or anger that makes love seem like a mostly-forgotten dream. After a while, this can become the new normal, so we call homelessness home – like becoming habituated to breathing shallowly and forgetting the richness of air that would be available if we would only breathe deeply.

So we need to come home to love. To recognize and have confidence in the love in your own heart – which will energize and protect you, even when you must also be assertive with others. To see and have faith in the love in others – even when it is veiled or it comes out in problematic ways. To trust in love that’s as present as air, to trust in loving that’s as natural as breathing.

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Come Home to Love
What does coming home to love mean to you? Can you share a personal experience of a time when you realized that love was like air? What helps you to remember to breathe deeply?
Rebecca McCarty wrote: The word “love”, in English, has many meanings. When I was a child, I “loved” my mother, chocolate ice cream, to play with my friends, the color red… etc.. As a young person I “loved” science ficti…
Kristin Pedemonti wrote: Coming home to love means recognizing it is truly our natural state. When we are at home in our own love in our own heart, we can then reach out and love others. All of them. 🙂 Here’s to trusting in…
Rebecca McCarty wrote: YES! …
p. murugan wrote: Love is a natural force embedded within the hearts of all of us. It is just that over time we have smothered our love with all sorts of feelings such as hate and bitterness acquired …
david doane wrote: There are different kinds of love, of course. One very important love is romantic love that involves chemistry, attraction, enjoying and wanting to be with the other. Another very i…
Share/Read Reflections >>
Awakin Wednesdays:
Many years ago, a couple friends got together to sit in silence for an hour, and share personal aha-moments. That birthed this newsletter, and later became “Wednesdays”, which now ripple out to living rooms around the world. To join, RSVP online.

RSVP For Wednesday

Some Good News

Radical Kindness: The Banker Who Gave It All Away
4 Ways Sadness May Be Good For You
Because I Said I Would

Video of the Week

Creative Compulsive Disorder: Remembering Zina Nicole Lahr

Kindness Stories

Police > Gratitude
The Imperfect Act of Kindness
Door Notes

Global call with Violane Hacker!
166.jpgJoin us for a conference call this Saturday, with a global group of ServiceSpace friends and our insightful guest speaker. Join the Forest Call >>

About
Back in 1997, one person started sending this simple “meditation reminder” to a few friends. Soon after, “Wednesdays” started, ServiceSpace blossomed, and the humble experiments of service took a life of its own. If you’d like to start an Awakin gathering in your area, we’d be happy to help you get started.

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InnerNet Weekly is an email service that delivers a little bit of wisdom to 87,452 subscribers each week. We never spam nor do we host any advertising. Archives, from the last 14+ years, are freely available online.

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A Gift Economy offering of ServiceSpace.org (2012)

Big Questions From Little People

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DailyGood News That Inspires

September 1, 2014

a project of ServiceSpace

Big Questions From Little People

Joy in the universe, and keen curiosity about it all – that has been my religion.

– John Burroughs –

Big Questions From Little People

Do animals like sheep and cows have accents? Why do we cry? Is new technology always good? The art of asking big questions often comes from brave little people who are innocent to the complexities of the answers. Sometimes, it takes a whole book and the world’s leading experts to respond to these simple yet profound inquiries about life, nature, and the cosmos… { read more }

Be The Change

Channel your child-like self and ask a courageous question about the world! Share your question as a comment to this article, on social media, or with your family and friendsâ¦and feel free to post responses, too. 🙂

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Of Webs, Boxes and Boundaries

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DailyGood News That Inspires

August 31, 2014

a project of ServiceSpace

Of Webs, Boxes and Boundaries

When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.

– John Muir –

Of Webs, Boxes and Boundaries

Margaret Wheatley shares: “When my children were small, I had a slogan on my refrigerator that read: ‘If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.’ Perhaps that was my children’s first lesson in systems thinking. We adults learn this, too. If others are struggling, we experience the consequences of their struggle. If others don’t feel safe, we aren’t safe. Great teachers have been trying to teach us this for thousands of years. Buddhism teaches that any one thing is here because of everything else. The great American naturalist John Muir said that if we tug on any one part of the web of life, we get the whole web. But we’ve been very slow to learn the lesson.” Read on to learn how to see beyond the boxes and into the interconnected web of life, and how doing so can contribute to the well-being of all. { read more }

Be The Change

What box do you usually identify yourself with: Your nationality? Your ethnicity? Your gender? Take a moment to consider how your well-being depends on the actions of those outside your box, and how their well-being depends on your actions. How can you honor this interconnection?

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DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 148,851 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

KindSpring // KarmaTube // Conversations // Awakin // More

Radical Kindness: The Banker Who Gave It All Away

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DailyGood News That Inspires

August 30, 2014

a project of ServiceSpace

Radical Kindness: The Banker Who Gave It All Away

There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

– Dalai Lama –

Radical Kindness: The Banker Who Gave It All Away

On the surface, Philip Wollen does not look like the radical type. Named as one of the top-wanted executives in Australia, he was a vice-president of Citibank when he was 34 and a general manager at Citicorp. Around 1990, however, Philip decided to give away 90% of his capital. His aim, he says, is to die broke; to give away all he owns with “warm hands.” Now, his Winsome Constance Kindness Trust (named after his mother and grandmother) supports all sorts of humanitarian causes around he world. The website of his trust says, “we don’t want your money,” and proclaims that its mission is “to promote kindness towards all other living beings.” { read more }

Be The Change

Think of something you own that would make another person very happy and give it away with love.

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DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 148,831 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

KindSpring // KarmaTube // Conversations // Awakin // More

4 Ways Sadness May Be Good For You

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DailyGood News That Inspires

August 29, 2014

a project of ServiceSpace

4 Ways Sadness May Be Good For You

Sadness is but a wall between two gardens.

– Khalil Gibran –

4 Ways Sadness May Be Good For You

Evolutionary theory suggests that we should embrace all of our emotions, as each has an important role to play under the right circumstances. So, though you may seek ways to increase happiness, don’t haphazardly push away your sadness. No doubt, it’s there for good reason, as research suggests that mild, temporary states of sadness may actually be beneficial in handling various aspects of our lives. { read more }

Be The Change

You can learn more about the science and power of gratitude at the Greater Good Gratitude Summit. { more }

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Other ServiceSpace projects include:

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Creative Compulsive Disorder: Remembering Zina Nicole Lahr

This week’s inspiring video: Creative Compulsive Disorder: Remembering Zina Nicole Lahr
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KarmaTube.org

Video of the Week

Aug 28, 2014
Creative Compulsive Disorder: Remembering Zina Nicole Lahr

Creative Compulsive Disorder: Remembering Zina Nicole Lahr

With goggles resting on her head and peacock feathers folded into hair, Zina Lahr viewed herself as a canvas. Self-diagnosed with “creative compulsive disorder”, Zina filmed a video to share her passion for mechanics and animatronics. She reveals some of her jaw-dropping artwork: a giant puppet spider she helped create for a movie, and a wired paper crane for stop-motion animation. Zina’s artwork reflects the power of her imagination brought to life. Her products were a tangible demonstration of the passion and creativity that flowed from her talent to create robotics. This video was an audition for a chance to compete on a reality show as a creature creator. Although she got a spot, Zina turned it down to return home and care for her grandmother, who was battling lung cancer. Several weeks after filming this video, Zina Lahr passed away in a hiking accident at the age of 23.
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From Hero To Host

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DailyGood News That Inspires

August 28, 2014

a project of ServiceSpace

From Hero To Host

I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.

– Mother Teresa –

From Hero To Host

For too long, too many of us have been entranced by heroes. Perhaps it’s our desire to not have to do the hard work, to rely on someone else to figure things out. But perhaps it’s time for us to face the truth of our situation — that we’re all in this together, that we all have a voice — and figure out how to mobilize the hearts and minds of everyone in our workplaces and communities. { read more }

Be The Change

Look for solutions to the problems your community faces, rather than call on someone else to solve them.

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DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 148,758 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

KindSpring // KarmaTube // Conversations // Awakin // More

Kindness In An Age of Connected Disconnection

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DailyGood News That Inspires

August 27, 2014

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Kindness In An Age of Connected Disconnection

We are all so much together, but we are all dying of loneliness.

– Albert Schweitzer –

Kindness In An Age of Connected Disconnection

Years ago, we didn’t have to try so hard to stay connected. People lived in neighborhoods, and there weren’t many strangers that didn’t ultimately become friends. We watched over one another with relationships built upon a foundation of shared interdependence, ensuring plenty of kindness to go around. Sadly though, through our own scientific progress, we now live in an age of ‘connected disconnection.’ Even the most basic of needs are provided by faceless entities. But, at what cost? Read on to learn of the direct correlation between kindness and personal connection. { read more }

Be The Change

Try to bring awareness to those moments of disconnectedness. Or, alternately, why not designate an hour of your day to go ‘hands free’ instead?

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DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 148,732 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

KindSpring // KarmaTube // Conversations // Awakin // More

Because I Said I Would

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DailyGood News That Inspires

August 26, 2014

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Because I Said I Would

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

– Kahlil Gibran –

Because I Said I Would

Alex Sheen keeps his promises. One year after his friend Charlie Cordell killed Vincent Canzani while drinking and driving, Alex stood outside of a busy bar with a sign telling those leaving that he was ready to drive them home that night and even take them back to their cars in the morning. And he did it for free, because he had a promise to keep. When someone snuck him a tip, he donated it to “Mothers Against Drunk Driving.” Keeping a promise not only helps to make the world a better place, it can save a life the process. { read more }

Be The Change

Take the time today to check out Alex Sheen’s “Because I said I would” movement. Then, try it yourself: make a promise and keep it. { more }

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DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 148,697 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

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Awakin Weekly: Search Inside or Outside?

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InnerNet Weekly: Inspirations from ServiceSpace.org
Search Inside or Outside?
by Rabiya

[Listen to Audio!]

1045.jpgA famous Sufi mystic, Rabiya, was searching for something on the street outsider her small hut. The sun was setting and darkness was descending, as few people gathered around her. "What have you lost? What are you searching for? Perhaps we can help," they said to Rabiya.

Rabiya said, "I have lost my needle."

One amongst the people said, "Well, the sun is setting now and it will be very difficult to find the needle. Where has it fallen? That’ll help us narrow down the area on this big road. If we know the exact place, it will be easier to find it."

Rabiya told them, "It is better not to ask me that question — because, actually, it has not fallen on the road at all. It has fallen inside my house."

Everyone started giggling as if she was joking. Then a skeptic says out loud, "We always knew that you were a little insane! If the needle has fallen inside the house, then why are you searching for it on the road?"

"For a very simple reason: inside the house there is no light and on the outside a little light is still there," Rabiya replied.

The people laughed and started dispersing. Rabiya called them back and said, "Listen! That’s exactly what you are doing: I was just following your example. You go on seeking bliss in the outside world without asking the most fundamental question: where exactly have I lost it?"

After a pause, she continues, "You have lost it inside, and yet you are looking for it on the outside for the very same reason — your senses are outward bound, your ears hear sounds on the outside, your hands touch things on the outside. That’s the reason why you are searching outside. For a very long time, I was also just searching on the outside. But the day I searched inwards, I was surprised. That is where I lost it and that is the only place it can be found."

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Search Inside or Outside?
What does searching inwards mean to you? Can you share a personal experience of a time you searched inwards? What practices of searching inwards work well for you?
Abhishek Thakore wrote: When I find myself searching for happiness too feverishly, I realise that it is like any other ambitious search that others are on (search for money, or for fame for example). So for me searchi…
Kristin Pedemonti wrote: Profound and so true as humor often is. Searching inward means being mindful and allowing oneself to slow down and Listen. Listen to the heart and inner voice which often reveals our true calling or …
Rebecca wrote: We have all heard the phrase “Take the road less traveled”. One day, quite by accident, thoughts were thinking in me, about this idea. A line of thinking which led to a contemplation of the ide…
Rebecca McCarty wrote: The door opens to all who would enter. …
david doane wrote: I remember a similar story. God wanted to place the secret of happiness somewhere that was accessible to humans but would take some work. He asked his angels for suggestions. …
Rebecca McCarty wrote: Your post puts new energy in to the meaning of th word: “Insightful”, thank-you. …
Jagdish P Daveh wrote: The source of sound is within me and I am in vain searching for the source of the sound outside of me. We look for happiness by wishing and acquiring name, fame, power and position coming …
Share/Read Reflections >>
Awakin Wednesdays:
Many years ago, a couple friends got together to sit in silence for an hour, and share personal aha-moments. That birthed this newsletter, and later became “Wednesdays”, which now ripple out to living rooms around the world. To join, RSVP online.

RSVP For Wednesday

Some Good News

How We Grieve: Learning To Live With Loss
This Is Your Brain On Food
Balancing The Brain And The Power of Choice

Video of the Week

Pay Attention to Nonviolence

Kindness Stories

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Global call with Carolyn North/ Daily Bread!
165.jpgJoin us for a conference call this Saturday, with a global group of ServiceSpace friends and our insightful guest speaker. Join the Forest Call >>

About
Back in 1997, one person started sending this simple “meditation reminder” to a few friends. Soon after, “Wednesdays” started, ServiceSpace blossomed, and the humble experiments of service took a life of its own. If you’d like to start an Awakin gathering in your area, we’d be happy to help you get started.

Forward to a Friend

InnerNet Weekly is an email service that delivers a little bit of wisdom to 87,331 subscribers each week. We never spam nor do we host any advertising. Archives, from the last 14+ years, are freely available online.

You can unsubscribe anytime, within seconds.

A Gift Economy offering of ServiceSpace.org (2012)

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