THE ART AND SCIENCE OF INNOVATIVE COLLABORATION: THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMANITY
FREQUENCY FOUR: FEAR IS THE MIND KILLER
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. Helen Keller
“Cowards die many times before their death.
The valiant taste of death but once.
It seems to me most strange that men should fear, seeing that
death, a necessary end…, will come when it will come.” William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
“I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.” Frank Herbert, Dune (3)
In my life, I’ve learned to ask what I am afraid of in a situation or with a person, and then do it. This almost always turns out well.
FREQUENCY FIVE: THE AWFUL TRUTH
It’s common wisdom that “the truth will set you free.” But it’s less obvious in emotional issues such as what to do about climate, corporations, education, healthcare, race, and sex. In all these places, the time has come to realize that it’s “The Awful Truth” that will set us free.
I learned this in a corporate sales counseling program in England. There were low sales, lack of support from hierarchy, unsupportive departments, and an internal sense of hopelessness. I asked them, “What’s the Truth?” They spoke and I asked again, “What’s the Awful Truth?” They spoke and I asked again with, “That’s not Awful enough” and they spoke again. Finally, I said, “That’s not Awful Enough — What’s Really Real?” There came a point when they spoke both from their hearts and minds about their experience of abuse and hopelessness. In a single moment, they became powerful men and women instead of victims. The Awful Truth was somehow game changing, and they would no longer be part of it. Then came uncharacteristic ideas, conversations, concrete actions and experiments.
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