The Crazy Wisdom Community Journal • May - August 2014 • Page 29
It also addresses an issue of the Spirit, or true self. None of us exist in isolation or a vacuum. In many ways we exist only in relation to the world around us. In Human Behavior and Organization Development theory, there is a model called the “Action Research Model.” Quite simply, it has four steps: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Plan Do Check Act
Indeed, there is a concept called “projection.” This theory states that the things that you are attracted to in others, as well as the things that irritate or frustrate you about others, are the exact things that you like, or are uncomfortable with, or dislike, about yourself.
If
you are trying to become the most
perfect version of yourself possible, then you need to see other people in the world
Basically, you have an assumption and you plan to take an action. You take that action. You check the results of that action to see if they are in line with your original plan and if they are taking you in the correct direction. Then you take actions based on what you discovered. The cycle repeats. This model is a good model to apply to your spiritual development. If you are trying to become the most perfect version of yourself possible, then you need to see other people in the world around you as a reflection of yourself.
around you as a reflection of yourself. Enlightened Selfishness actually requires you to have more. More resources. More money. More social connections. More knowledge. More authority. You see, the more you have, the more you can share with others. The more resources you have, the more good you can do in the world. The more money you have, the more people you can employ or invest in. The more social connections you have, the more you can connect other people with the things they need. Enlightened Selfishness completely supports the ego. It protects you because it enables you to have more people around you who are connected to you and feel an affiliation with you. And the more people you can help in your community, the more those people will feel safe, secure, and less apt to be violent.
Father and daughter apply their self-defense knowledge
The
commonness of being human means that
we all have an ego.
And
it is designed
to protect us and keep us safe.
Two brothers commit to earning their Black Belts and rely on the support of the Quest Community
Enlightened Selfishness
is the practice
of having all you want while, and this is the critical point, making the world a better place. From a spiritual point of view, you are cultivating compassion and service to others. You are also learning that differences between people are just opportunities for personal growth and leveraging each other's strengths. Nine Ways to Resolve the Quandary 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Using their whole body, adult students practice applied defense techniques
Even
the best of us functions with these drivers, so our decisions tend to be from a “me,” “my,” and “mine” orientation. What would be best for “me”?
Help yourself Help others Resolve conflict Celebrate differences See yourself and others Look for opportunities for leveraging yours and others’ strengths Build community Embrace your uniqueness Embrace the fact that you are not unique
Enlightened Selfishness could possibly be the key to resolving your issues and your community’s issues. It could also resolve the problems facing our nation and help the world wake up to the possibilities of truly supporting one another. Instead of seeing conflict, we could embrace cooperation and collaboration. Keith Copeland is the owner of Quest Martial Arts, which is located at 2111 Packard Street, Ann Arbor 48104. He also runs an organization development and personal development practice in which he guides individuals and businesses to find their greatest efficiency and effectiveness, thereby creating value through their right livelihood. To learn more, call (734) 332-1800, email questcenter@sbcglobal.net, or visit www.quest-martialarts.com.