THE POWER OF IMAGINATION, INTENTION AND FLOW IN THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS
My request to you
When I have time to myself, I go outside and sit by a tree. There I practice stilling my mind and being fully conscious in the present moment. In this state of mindfulness, I contemplate the surrounding nature and meditate on my life and the world around me. Harnessing the power of imagination, intention and flow, I enjoy visualizing possibilities in my mind. I ask myself the questions “What if?” and then “So What?”. At night, while sitting outside by the fire, I look up to the sky and gaze at the stars. I can’t help but wonder, “What is it like to travel in space through the galaxy?”, “Are we alone in the universe?”. Then, I try to shift my perspective by imagining myself looking at the Earth from its orbit.
From this vantage point, I could experience what is called the ‘Overview Effect’, first described by the author Frank White in 1987. The Overview Effect is a shift in awareness reported by many astronauts and cosmonauts during spaceflight. It refers to the experience of seeing firsthand the reality that the Earth is in space, a tiny, fragile ball of life, ‘hanging in the void’, shielded and nourished by a paper-thin atmosphere. The experience often transforms astronauts’ perspective on the planet and humanity’s place in the universe. Common features of the experience include a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnectedness of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment on Earth.
Thomas, it’s not about you or me or them, it’s about ‘US’. We, as human beings, as individuals and as a community. What if a critical mass of us felt a sense of wonder for our planet, understood the interconnectedness of all life, and felt a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment? What would then become possible?
My request is addressed to you my son and to everyone who will read these lines, whether you are a parent, a child, a student, a teacher, a faculty dean, a worker, a self-employed person, a manager, a business executive, a retiree, a citizen or a world leader: I speak from the heart when I ask you to consider what I have said here and be open to positive change where it means the most in your life.
I sincerely hope that this letter will plant in your head the seed of a possible future for humanity and that it will create a spark that will ignite the fuel of your imagination, intention and flow, so that you too can commit yourself, take action and begin realizing your dreams.
I love you and I am proud of you,
Dad
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