The Meaning Difference

Reflections on MEANINGFUL VALUES

Some years ago, I wrote an article in the Journal for Quality and Participation called "Reflections of a (re)evolutionary."  It is interesting to look back on life and work to see where you were, what has changed , and also what has stayed the same.  In this article I wrote:

Time and experience certainly tend to influence what seems worth having and doing.  In my case, however, these influences have been tempered by the fact that I have maintained over my adult life a set of core values or principles to guide my thoughts and actions.  In effect, these values, which have manifested themselves in different ways over the years, comprise the foundation of my character and emanate from the essence of my very being--my soul, if you will.  It is as if my growth and learning have spiraled higher and higher over time above the very same point.  With the experience of being able to view oneself from a distance, I can now "see" more clearly the contours of my life's journey, with all of its zigs and zags, in some orderly fashion.

This said, my "worth ethic" has always centered on the notion of service, especially public service.  More than 20 years ago, I was committing to causes greater than myself.  To be of service to others, especially to those less fortunate than I, became a "calling";  and the opportunity to challenge the status quo, no matter how much conflict was involved, became a quest worth doing.  From participating in the anti-war effort with SDS [Students for A Democratic Society] during the Vietnam era to helping to fight the "war on poverty" in the inner cities and rural areas of America, my notion of "worthiness" revolved more around the "doing" or experiencing of something of value than it did the "having."  Driven by a core value in which self-fulfillment was always more important than material success, I found myself submerged deeply in what Professor Peter Vaill has termed the "permanent whitewater" of change.  Indeed, I eventually learned, oftentimes the hard way, that you can change without growing but you cannot grow without changing.

Since writing this piece, I recognize that the "permanent whitewater" of change has been ever present.  One reaffirming experience that has deepened the meaning of this earlier message, came when my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, was published. It started what has become a MEANING MINISTRY that is reaching out across the world, one meaning-full experience and opportunity at a time.  As I have written often here, it is a book based on the wisdom of my mentor and teacher, Dr. Viktor Frankl, world renown psychiatrist, holocaust survivor and author of the classic, Man's Search for Meaning. Again, I realize that much has changed in this discovery of deeper meaning and purpose in my life through my connection to his meaning-focused message and legacy, and much has stayed the same. Over the years, I have been able to reaffirm over and over again, like I wrote in the above-mentioned article, that my growth and learning have spiraled higher and higher over time above the very same point. From this vantage point, I believe that it is the authentic commitment to meaningful values and goals (i.e., will to meaning) that has enabled me to navigate, as well as discover the seeds of meaning within, the permanent whitewater of change around me. Who knows, perhaps this is what is meant by the notion of the "path to enlightenment!"

As I travel the world, carrying my message of meaning to and for others, I find myself reflecting upon and learning about my own life in meaningful ways as well. In Prisoners of Our Thoughts, I quote something from Viktor Frankl that is relevant to this very point: "I wish to stress that the true meaning of life is to be discovered in the world rather than within man or his own psyche, as though it were a closed system." [Page 25, Emphasis Added]  Put differently, there is a humanistic concept advanced in South Africa called "UBUNTU" in the Zulu language. UBUNTU can be translated roughly into English as "A person is only a person through other persons."  As I also write in Prisoners of Our Thoughts, UBUNTU is not about relationships per se; rather, it is about human-ness and how only human beings can truly establish the human-ness of others (that is, our human-ness can only be truly expressed as a "reflection" of others). Insofar as Viktor Frankl's humanistic (and existential) philosophy is concerned, we must be able to extend beyond ourselves (Principle #7) so that we can fulfill or realize more of ourselves. 

Reflecting on my article in the Journal for Quality and Participation, this is what I meant by having a "set of core values or principles to guide my thoughts and actions."  In the midst of the permanent whitewater that surrounds us all, ultimately, it is our will to meaning that guides us through the labyrinth of life and enables our growth and learning to light the way.  And while this may not appear to be a "revolutionary" concept, because it happens continuously over our life times, it is "(re)evolutionary!"

So, now, ask yourself...
As you walk the labyrinth that is your life, what set of core values or principles guide your thoughts and actions?  Furthermore, how are you applying the concept of UBUNTU so that you can fulfill and realize more of yourself?

All the best,
Alex

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
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NEW EDITION: Prisoners of Our Thoughts
New edition of Prisoners of Our Thoughts in paperback, Audiobook CD, and digital download formats!  Prisoners of Our Thoughts applies Viktor Frankl's philosophy and therapeutic approach to life and work in the 21st century, detailing seven principles for increasing your capacity to deal with life-work challenges, finding meaning in your daily life and work, and achieving your highest potential.  Among other changes, this new edition includes a new chapter on how readers of the hardcover edition have put the seven meaning-centered principles into action, both in their everyday lives and even in extreme situations such as in Indonesia after the tsunami (where several aid agencies adopted the book as part of their training and relief programs) and in post-Katrina New Orleans.

Buy a copy at Amazon.com

AN INCONCEIVABLE TRUTH: The Lost Generation of Palestine

I’m writing this post in Lisboa (Lisbon), Portugal, where I continue to share the meaning-centered message described in my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts.

Legend has it that the City of Lisboa was discovered by the Greek, Ulysses, and the ancient Castelo de São Jorge, which sits at the very top of the highest hill in Lisboa has a tower named after him.  The “Tower of Ulysses” houses the Periscope, an optical system invented by Leonardo Da Vinci in the 16th Century and the only one in Portugal, giving a 360 degree view of the City.  The oldest remains found here date back to the 6th Century BC, where evidence of the Phoenicians, Romans, and Moslems abound.

Taken from the Moors and absorbed into Portuguese territory in 1147, Lisboa was proclaimed capitol of the kingdom in 1252.  It became the first European trading port for importing merchandise from the newly-discovered Atlantic islands, the shores of Africa, the Americas and Asia, and became a site for the converging of these respective cultures and faith-based traditions.

As you can imagine, being here--in an environment where there is so much evidence of the rich history and convergence of diverse cultures and faiths--is truly enlightening and, yes, meaningful.  Such an experience, however, also serves to bring other aspects of the human condition into sharper focus, including shedding light on the “existential divide” that still casts its long shadow on life in the postmodern era.  It is as if one is able to look at life through Da Vinci’s Periscope from high atop the Tower of Ulysses!

In this regard, I was struck in a very profound way by an article that I read in the Times Digest (a publication service of The New York Times that is distributed to business travelers here), entitled “Palestinians Fear a Generation of Nihilists.”  The worried parents call them the lost generation of Palestine and “its most radical, most accepting of violence and most despairing.”  These are the children of the second intifada that began in 2000.  The article underscores that this generation is growing up in a territory riven by infighting, seared by violence, occupied by Israel, largely cut off from the world and segmented by barriers and checkpoints.  They are young people who have no hope in either the present or the future.  “We never see anything good in our lives,” exclaims one of the youth interviewed in the article.

Like my mentor, Dr. Viktor Frankl, I firmly believe that the primary intrinsic motivation of all human beings is the search for meaning.  Yet, by allowing societal conditions to exist (and persist) that result in a "generation of nihilists," we are creating much more than a manifestation of collateral damage or other contemporary political-speak.  By robbing people (in this case an entire generation of human beings) of their very human-ness, that is, their inherent capacity to search for meaning, civilized society is effectively plotting its own demise whether it "knows" it or not.  In my view, nihilism on such a broad scale is a lost cause, no matter what the original intent.  And insofar as the lost generation of Palestine is concerned, we all should pay heed to Jimmy Carter’s new book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, and seek a peaceful, authentic resolution that will help to restore hope to the youth who's cry for meaning can be heard loud and clear in Lisboa and around the world.  And from my elevated perch on the Tower of Ulysses, I can see that we will only be able to find common ground by going to a higher ground.    

I would be interested to hear your thoughts and feelings on this matter.  Besides the current situation in Palestine...

What do you think about my argument that we can not afford to produce a "generation of nihilists?"  Do you agree?

All the best,
Alex

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
Learn more

Buy a copy of PRISONERS OF OUR THOUGHTS:
Viktor Frankl's Principles at Work
by Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.

Pictures of Lisboa, Portugal

RETIRING RETIREMENT: Freedom, Independence and Meaning-FULL WORK

re-tire-ment (ri-tīr-ment) v.: 
withdrawal from one's position or occupation or from active working life

I remember a  Canadian campaign some years back that was called Freedom 55. It promised not only financial independence beginning at 55, but also the lure of freedom to do whatever you would want for the rest of your life. With the average life-span increasing for both men and women, I remember wondering what this kind of "freedom" would ultimately mean for such young retirees. What would they do with --- and for --- the rest of their lives in retirement?

When the first of America's 79 million baby boomers reach age 62 in 2008, it appears they are going to change the meaning of the word "retirement." Recent surveys by AARP demonstrate that most older workers --- nearly 70% --- want to continue working. They know what they want from work at this time in their lives. They put a high value on meaning-full work that keeps them actively engaged in life:

• 86% say that staying in the workforce keeps them healthy and active.
• Nearly 60% feel that their jobs contribute to society or help people.
• Less than one-third say they look forward to full retirement a great deal.

"Boomers are going to redefine what we think of as aging. We'll reject the term 'aging' or 'elderly.' Many boomers want less responsibility; they've done the management thing. They're looking for more meaningful work, to hone their skills, to still contribute — but to have flexible work options. ...When you go beyond the financial aspects, you see the issues of wanting to feel connected to the workplace and that there's still a lot more to be offered in skill, knowledge, and expertise..."
                     --- Deborah Russell, AARP director of economic security

This is still another validation that our search for meaning is not about only finding a higher purpose or a true calling as I share in my book. It's about finding meaning in every moment, every day. It's our personal responsibility to discover that meaning and it is clear that many "boomers" are taking this on as a personal mission.

I find this an exciting prospect at this time of turmoil in the world! Why? Because in my own experience, I've found that people who take the time to find meaning are happier---they're more joyful, more passionate, and more fulfilled. They are more resilient to the stresses of life. And, in effect, they become the "light" for others.

Regardless of your age, there is much to learn from this example of the ongoing search for meaning in our lives. Consider this question...

What are you doing in your life and work--and what are you doing (or intend to do) in your "retirement"--to discover meaning that will help you be more joyful, more passionate, more fulfilled, so you can be a light for others?

All the best,
Alex 

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
Learn more

Buy a copy of PRISONERS OF OUR THOUGHTS:
Viktor Frankl's Principles at Work
by Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.

MEANING IN EDUCATION: No Person Left Behind

The search for meaning has been called a "megatrend" of the 21st century. This should not be surprising since the drive to look for and discover meaning in life, including our work life, is effectively built into our DNA--in fact, it helps to define our "human-ness."  It was the world-renown psychiatrist, Dr. Viktor Frankl, who argued that the search for meaning is the "primary intrinsic motivation of all human beings."  So, it's now time to ask ourselves: what are the implications of this meaning-centered megatrend for education? 

This is a question I’ve been thinking about myself as I prepare to do a keynote presentation at the Calgary City Teachers’ Convention Association in a few weeks.

In my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, written at Frankl's personal urging, it shows how, by discovering "The Meaning Difference," each and every one of us holds the keys to unlocking our inner mental prison. In other words, we do not have to be prisoners of our thoughts, if we do not want to be! Our common search for meaning can help turn life's challenges into beacons of hope, no matter what our personal circumstances are or where we work. When it comes to education, we must recognize that being "prisoners of our thoughts" adversely impacts our roles and responsibilities as teachers, students, staff, and parents in spite of our best intentions.

Viktor Frankl’s lessons affirm that by committing authentically to meaningful values and goals, both inside and outside of the classroom, educators at all levels will be able to realize their full potential as catalysts for continuous learning and development. It also is clear that it is teachers who must lead the way in the pursuit of meaning---not only by discovering the deeper meaning in their own work and personal lives---but also by inspiring others, especially students, to do the same.

Today we live in a world of many formidable challenges. At the same time, there is a call for hope and a cry for meaning that can be heard loud and clear. Only by meaningfully engaging students, parents, teachers, staff, and the community-at-large in the continuous learning and development process will we be able to turn hope into reality and co-create a better world for all.

In the ongoing Viktor Frankl Personal Responsibility Dialogue online at the Global Dialogue Center (see link below), people all over the world have been sharing their experiences and observations. Many of their stories demonstrate how each of us has something meaning-full to contribute. Below are two examples that illustrate how we can discover deeper meaning in education in ways that may not be so obvious --- one is a businessman's personal story of developing young entrepreneurs and the other is an observation someone made of a student’s innovative idea that is making a difference:

“While I am working to set up my own business, I’m also helping students learn entrepreneurial skills. We need more projects in schools that introduce students to entrepreneurial ideas and thinking at an earlier age then most of us learned. They need to learn how we all achieve more by working together.”

“I was touched by the actions of a high school student. When he realized that all the left over food was being thrown away by his lunchroom, he found a way for the food to be saved for hungry people in our community.”

As you can see, if we work together to co-create an environment where every student, parent, teacher, staff member and member of the community recognizes they have a meaning-full role to play in making the world a better place for all people, it will ensure no person is left behind.

In what ways are you seeing meaning in education emerge in new ways?

How do you think we can ensure no person is left behind?

All the best,
Alex 

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
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Put your mark on history...share your perspective on PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

WHAT MATTERS IN LIFE? The Search for Meaning

I received a meaningful comment from Joe Raasch in response to my message, Discovering the JOY in any season. I wanted to share both Joe's comment and my response to him with all of you. As we move into a new year, our exchange offers all of us an opportunity for a new level of discovery of deeper meaning in our lives and work. It also opens the way for a broader dialogue.

JOE RAASCH COMMENT...
Dr. Alex, I just finished a second read of your book. It is becoming clear to me that our society doesn't possess bad intention and not want to find meaning. We just forgot how. Much the same in our search for joy during the holiday season. I celebrate Christmas and see the extended commercialism that some try to use to get that joy. We want it, we just forgot how to find it.

MY RESPONSE TO JOE...
Dear Joe,
Thank you for letting me know that you've read my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, a second time!  And thanks for posting your insightful comment on my meaning blog.  I agree with you that our society doesn't "possess bad intention and not want to find meaning."  As you astutely point out, somewhere along our path we seem to forget how to realize our will to meaning.  And since you've read my book twice, I suspect that now you can see why it was written primarily as a practical, "how-to," guidebook on the search for meaning.  Indeed, I am blessed to have been able to stand on the shoulders of my mentor, Dr. Viktor Frankl, whose life and legacy will forever bring light to darkness by underscoring what really matters in life--the search for meaning.

Remembering "how" to do something, however, is not sufficient cause to bring about authentic and sustainable change.  We must first acknowledge and embrace the "why" of what we intend to accomplish, and this includes our "want to find meaning."  And it is our personal (and collective) responsibility to remember "why" the search for meaning is so important, much in the same way that it is our personal (and collective) responsibility to remember "why" the search for joy (and discovering the deeper "meaning" of joy) during the holiday season is so important. 

To be sure, in a world that is so fast-changing and increasingly complex, it is both more difficult to remember what really matters in life and easier to abdicate our personal responsibility for doing so.  We can always find something or someone else to "blame" for our circumstances and therefore rationalize our attitude or behavior, can't we?!  To truly look within ourselves  and to cut across the grain of something like "extended commercialism" are not especially easy, let alone desirable, paths to follow in the postmodern era even if we supposedly "know how." 

In the late 19th Century, the German psychologist, Dr. Hermann Ebbinghaus, a pioneer in the field of human memory (although studies of memory can be traced to the Greek poet, Simonides, in 477 BC), introduced what he called the "Law of the Forgetting Curve."  In effect, all human beings are prone to forget and unless they actively do something to alter the forgetting curve, the dual challenge of retention and recall quickly becomes formidable.  In fact, studies have demonstrated that the "average" person is bound to forget about 75% of whatever material is presented to her or him within the first 24 hours and over 90% over the course of only 30 days, unless something is done to retain the information in one's consciousness!  So, Joe, you can see that we all have our work cut out for us!  Whether we are seeking to alter the forgetting curve of "how" to find meaning and/or joy (during the holiday season or not), or we are looking to alter the forgetting curve of "why" we need to find meaning (and authentic joy) in our lives, the onus of responsibility falls again upon us.

We must more than "want" something in order not to forget about it.  In fact, if we really know what we "want," that is, we "know" the deeper meaning behind the intention, according to Dr. Frankl, we are more likely to achieve our intention by "forgetting" about it!  In Chapter 10 of my book, I try to illustrate how this logotherapeutic principle actually works.  Although it may seem counter-intuitive to some, our search for joy during the Holiday season--or at any other time in our lives--is not something that we can pursue; rather, it is something that ensues by "extending beyond oneself."  If this doesn't make sense, it may be time for a third reading of Prisoners of Our Thoughts!

Let me know what you think and thanks again for sharing!

What thoughts do you have to add to this dialogue?  Hope you let me know.

...and to all of you, Happy New Year!

All the best,
Alex 

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
Learn more

Discovering the JOY in any season

As we look out around the world, there is a lot challenging us to discover the real joy in this season. Maybe for you, it is more personal with memories or realities that leave you feeling less than cheerful, but let's look closer at the possibilities.

In my book, I described it this way: Real cheerfulness is not have-a-nice-day artifice. It's a way of experiencing the present, no matter what the weight of the world or the weather. Cheerfulness celebrates the possibility of meaning around every corner. It buoys us up beyond our individual concerns and invites us and others around us to find something to be happy about. 

It is in the times that challenge us that we need one another's cheer. This is validated by the humanistic concept advanced in South Africa called Ubuntu that not only provides the foundation for African management but also is pertinent to our understanding of self-transcendence. The full expression in Zulu of this concept is UBUNTU NGUMUNTU NGABANTU, translated roughly into English as "A person is only a person through other persons." Importantly, Ubuntu is not about relationships per se; rather, it is about human-ness and how only human beings can establish the human-ness of others. The concept is congruent with Viktor Frankl's humanistic philosophy. I propose that it is because of Ubuntu (that is, our human-ness can only be truly expressed as a “reflection” of others), that self-transcendence occurs. In effect, we must be able to extend beyond ourselves so that we can fulfill or realize more of ourselves. 

The search for meaning in our lives takes us on paths large and small --- paths that sometime challenge us to reach out beyond ourselves to discover the joy in any season. When we go beyond ourselves --- whether in forgiveness, unselfishness, thoughtfulness, generosity and understanding toward others---we enter into the spiritual realm of meaning. By giving beyond ourselves, we make our own lives richer.

"...Life will give you back everything you have given to it.
Your life is not a coincidence. It's a reflection of you!"
--- The Echo

What can you do to move beyond yourself to reflect the joy of any season for others---so you become more yourself?

All the best,
Alex 

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
Learn more

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY: What Life Expects From Us

RELATED AUDIO-VISUAL PODCAST:

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:
It's Role in Creating a Better World
Nine Berrett-Koehler Authors came together to explore personal responsibility: What it means? How could it change things? What can we all do? Dr. Alex Pattakos, John Perkins and Angeles Arrien set the stage for this powerful conversation among a group of distinguished authors about current affairs in our country and our world.
LEARN MORE and LISTEN

A FEW PERSONAL THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER...
Personal responsibility is a topic that resonates with me. I believe in it, do you? Reflecting back on my generation, when we were going through the anti-war movement at another time in history, there was a sense of social activism that was certainly pleasure-driven, but also carried with it a higher purpose. It wasn’t just John Lennon’s songs and lyrics that symbolized this time of great change. I think people really believed in it. Some years later, we seemed to go through a period where we became a lot more affluent and anesthetized to a lot of things that were going on around us and in the world. We lost touch. We closed our eyes. We exchanged our social activism with the ease of running on auto-pilot.

Today, we find ourselves in a time of great turmoil, deep divides, great need, war, destruction and life, in many ways, out of control. I find it a time that is calling out for its citizens to feel a sense of personal responsibility. It comes with an invitation to discover deeper meaning in our lives, giving instead of taking --- by engaging instead of shutting down. The stakes are high and it is time to move forward to rebuild our country, our families, our communities and our planet. We must wake up, get informed and get involved!

As I mention in my book, we are, by nature, creatures of habit. As we repeat our patterns of thought over and over again, we begin to believe that life just happens to us and this limits our potential. We become prisoners of our thoughts. Perhaps, this describes where many of us are at this moment, but this can be changed.

Recently, I had an opportunity to participate in the PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY dialogue referenced above with eight other Berrett-Koehler authors. It was not only meaning-FULL to be invited to seed the conversation, but it was also a thought-provoking experience to hear what others had to say. The whole idea was to create dialogue that would invite others to think and question with us and get involved right where they are. I've realized it was a conversation about what life was expecting from us.

"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life - daily and hourly. Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual."   
--- Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

I invite you to meet nine Berrett-Koehler authors and  LISTEN IN to PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY: It's Role in Creating a Better World and let me know what you think!

All the best,
Alex 

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
Learn more

RELATED LINKS:

Put your mark on history...share your perspective on PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

 

Meaning-Full SUSTAINABILITY: The Power of Dialogue

RELATED PODCAST:
KSFR Santa Fe Public Radio presents...

HABITAT JAM: The Rest of the Story
with Charles Kelly, Commissioner General of the World Urban Forum III (WUF) joined by Dr. Alex Pattakos and Debbe Kennedy, founder, Global Dialogue Center meet to talk about the remarkable story of turning talk about sustainability of our cities and planet into action.  LISTEN NOW

There are meaning-full moments one doesn't forget. Especially, those where you get to both, witness and personally experience, some pioneering first. So it was with the Habitat Jam, a groundbreaking online dialogue that brought 39,000 people from 158 countries together for an historic 72-hours as a preparatory event for the World Urban Forum III. The visionary idea came to life through an innovative partnership of the UN-Habitat, the Government of Canada and IBM. IBM's JAM technology and a multi-talented team that made it possible for tens of thousands of global citizens, rich and poor alike, to come together in the largest ever public dialogue at the Habitat JAM last December. The ultimate goal was turning ideas into action for six of the most critical issues of urban sustainability.

During the Habitat Jam, I remember some provocative discussions and some of the questions that were raised about how we could engage others and whether or not the dialogue would really be turned into action. One exchange I remember went like this (excerpts from the Habitat Jam):

I RAISED A FEW QUESTIONS:
Don't you think that the "whole is greater than the sum of the parts?" Hence, rather than focusing on the limits per se of government, business, or the nonprofit sector, why not focus on enhancing the relationships between them? For example, isn't "good government" really more about "partnership" rather than "partisanship?" The future of cities (and humanity, for that matter) will require more people to span the boundaries, i.e., limits, and forge meaningful relationships between people, organizations, nation-states, and so forth. Do you agree?

How can we get shareholders, i.e., "people," to commit to meaningful values and goals, rather than simply pursue the will to money? Don't you think that a dialogue on "humanity" should presume that people are not simply mice looking for more cheese?! In other words, what makes us "humans" and how can we tap into the human spirit so that we can effect meaningful change on an authentic, deeper level? Isn't punishing shareholders (like rewarding them) like putting on a small bandage on a large wound? And, more importantly, aren't these conventional approaches to behavioral change somewhat "de-humanizing?" Food-for-thought!

BRIAN ANSWERED: 
I believe getting people involved is a fairly complex process that takes time. Two of the primary motivators I've seen as most successful have been the successful creation of images and hope. Images whether with pictures or word create something concrete that people can understand. Most people are attracted to symbols of hope.

IVANA CHIMED IN:
I suppose if we knew answers to your questions we would not have reached the point we are facing now. I suppose that one of the goals of this JAM is to discover how to handle the problems we face today. However, my answer might lie in the fact that there are many enthusiastic individuals that are concerned for our environment. They usually act in their community, sometimes being misunderstood and rejected. What if we create a strong network for those individuals - for mutual support and exchange of ideas and experiences... But perhaps this is what JAM is all about! I am very interested in the outcome of it!

I OFFERED UP IDEAS AND ASKED NEW QUESTIONS:
Indeed, I hope that we're all interested in the outcome(s) of the JAM and, most importantly, don't allow the positive energy and "synergies" that are developing as a result of this dynamic process to end. When I refer to the notion of "meaningful sustainability," I'm also applying it to the human dimension, that is, sustaining the meaning-full connections between all members of our broadly-defined "community of stakeholders." In this connection (no pun intended), how do we ensure that the participants in this JAM remain meaningfully engaged in the process after the JAM closes? What recommendations might we offer to the JAM organizers and those planning the 3rd World Urban Forum to keep the connections alive? The JAM is offering the world a unique opportunity to participate in a transparent and authentic process for the sharing of ideas. Now that the window of opportunity has been opened, what can we do, both individually and collectively, to prevent it from closing?

THE REST OF THE STORY

"I wish to stress that the true meaning of life is to be discovered in the world
rather than within man ..."  --- Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

Well, indeed, the dialogue that started at the Habitat Jam mattered. It resulted in over 4000 pages of dialogue, reports from outreach activities and a list of 600 potential ideas. From those ideas 70 exemplary ideas, which were selected because they were  practical, represented ideas from various parts of the world, had relevance to the World Urban Forum 3 agenda, and held promise for having high impact on urban problems.

Learn more about the Habitat Jam and World Forum 3, as well as, the forum results and the innovative follow-on work underway, particularly the Global Urban Sustainability Solutions Exchange. It was particularly meaning-full to meet up with Charles Kelly, Debbe Kennedy and KSFR host Diego Mulligan on THE JOURNEY HOME to share the REST OF THE STORY. I invite you to listen in and also to learn more about the Habitat Jam and World Forum 3 results.

Let me know what you think?
What could we do to bring more people into the dialogue?
Would you like to participate in a JAM?

All the best,
Alex 

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
Santa Fe, NM USA  www.themeaningdifference.com

Visit me at my "virtual office at the Global Dialogue Center www.globaldialoguecenter.com/alexpattakos

Listen to and support the award-winning KSFR Public Radio in Santa Fe streaming on the web around the world.

KATRINA: Lessons Learned & Personal Responsibility

It's been a year now since we witnessed the horrors associated with Hurricane Katrina.  What have we learned and, more importantly, how are we going to grow and develop, both individually and collectively, as a result of this tragedy?  Juan Williams, a senior correspondent for NPR, political analyst for the Fox News Channel, and author of Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America, addresses this question in a provocative Op-Ed piece in The New York Times (September 1, 2006), entitled "Getting Past Katrina."

Williams notes that, among other things, Hurricane Katrina awoke many of us to the stark reality that poverty persists, especially among African-Americans.  We seem today to be no closer to victory in the so-called "War on Poverty" than we are in the "War on Terror."  In fact, says Williams, poverty in the United States has been on the rise since the start of the new millenium.  And, in the City of New Orleans before Hurrican Katrina, the poverty rate was about double the national average and a sky-high 35 percent among blacks, who made up nearly 70 percent of the city's population.

Trying to lay "Partisan Politics" aside, Williams asserts that the poor, including blacks, bear some responsibility for getting out of poverty.  And he contends that the prescription is clear: finish high school, at least; wait until your 20's before marrying; wait until you're married before having children; and, once you're in the work force, stay in: take any job, because building on the experience will prepare you for a better job. To quote Williams, "Any American who follows that prescription will be at almost no risk of falling into extreme poverty.  Statistics show it."  Importantly, Williams concludes that the real rebuilding project on the Gulf Coast requires bringing new energy to confronting the poverty of spirit, which he believes was tearing down the City of New Orleans long before Hurricane Katrina.

As I have asserted many times in this blog, and have described in my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, the authentic commitment to meaningful values and goals (or "will to meaning") requires a heavy dose of personal responsibility for, ultimately, only we--each and everyone of us--can actualize and fulfill them.  In my book, I reference the following lyrics of Rodney Crowell from his song, "Time to Go Inward" (Track 4: Fate's Right Hand, Sony Music Entertainment, 2003):

It's time to go inward, take a look at myself.
Time to make the most of the time that I've got left.
Prison bars imagined are no less solid steel.

By refusing to be held a "prisoner of our thoughts," we can bring our will to meaning to life, and it will mean something.  Indeed, perhaps it may even prove to be the most effective anti-poverty program of all!

What do you think of such an idea? And, what do you suggest might help people "get past Katrina"?  As always, I look forward to hearing from you!

All the best,
Alex 

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
Santa Fe, NM USA  www.themeaningdifference.com

Visit me at my "virtual office at the Global Dialogue Center www.globaldialoguecenter.com/alexpattakos

Viktor Frankl: TAKING A DEEPER LOOK AT MEANING

Hello to all of you that stop by...

I received an interesting post from Thomas in response to my TRUE FREEDOM: Finding Deeper Meaning in Life message. Because he shared a number meaning-full ideas and also raised some questions many of us ask, I wanted to share his message, as well as my response to him. Perhaps we can expand the dialogue with some thoughts from those of you showing up to read it. I welcome your thoughts and any questions on your mind!

Below is a link to my original message that prompted Thomas' response, followed by his message and my message back to him:

For Your Reference: TRUE FREEDOM: Finding Deeper Meaning in Life
More about Viktor Frankl: Visit the Viktor Frankl Collection at the Global Dialogue Center

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MESSAGE FROM THOMAS:
I've been reading everything I can by [Viktor] Frankl. I know what he says is true but am unsure how to manifest it in my life.  I am 54 years old, single, no children.  I ponder that I will be around about another twenty years or so. 

What will I know that I have done in this world?  I can understand the hunger for people to believe that their lives mattered.  I am more aware of the miracle of consciousness, the ability to behold it all.  I remember walking by a lake, looking across it and thinking, "I was here.  I saw this." 

I wonder who, if anyone, would create us to even want to know the purpose of our lives.  Why does it matter that we want something beyond ourselves?  If we were just beings that live until they die and that's it, it would be easier to believe in the Clockmaker God.  What is it in people that they need to be spiritual, to accomplish something.  Why would people want to believe in a greater power?  Frankl quotes one who said, "Thirst is the proof for the existence of water."  Perhaps, it is something just to ponder these questions. 

Another great thinker, philosopher and spiritualist of the 20th Century was Abraham Heschel.  I am starting to dovetail the two.  Heschel alludes to the spiritual, even calling for the sense of awe.  Can we create a "spiritual machine"? Why would we want to.  A woman who wrote about writing encouraged people to answer the questions they pose.

Thank you for the opportunity to put this online.  Will anyone read it?  I can't know.  I can know that I wrote it and I read it.  That is a beginning.

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MY RESPONSE TO THOMAS:

Dear Thomas,

Thank you so very much for sharing your views on the subject of TRUE FREEDOM: Finding Deeper Meaning in Life. I can assure you that your contribution of time and effort was worthwhile and meaning-full on many different levels.  Indeed, besides yourself and me, I have no doubt that your post has been read and will be read by many people around the world, who are interested in your perspective, the questions that you raise, and the implications of your observations on whatever answer(s) they may be seeking.  And that too is a beginning!

I am pleased to learn that you have immersed yourself in Viktor Frankl's work.  In this regard, let me suggest that you also read my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, for it will give you a perspective on Frankl's unique approach to existential philosophy and analysis that I'm certain you will find helpful.   Moreover, in light of your comment that you are "unsure how to manifest [it] in my life," Prisoners of Our Thoughts will also give you some practical "tools and techniques" for self-discovery and personal transformation.  And I know without question that these tools and techniques "work" for I use them regularly (during the good, bad, and ugly moments) in my own life!   

Obviously, I don't know you, so it would be inappropriate for me to get too personal in my response to some of the things noted in your online post.  This said, you do raise some interesting issues and questions; matters that strike at the very heart (and soul) of human existence.  And I like your reference to the "miracle of consciousness" since it mirrors the image--and importantly, the message--described in Prisoners of Our Thoughts.  But be warned: the miracle of consciousness can be both a blessing and a curse!  Consciousness, in effect, is a relationship between the "observed" and the "observer."  When this relationship becomes stagnant, stuck, or fixed, consciousness looses its luster and we effectively become "prisoners of our thoughts!" 

Against this backdrop, I challenge you not only to remain aware of the "miracle of consciousness" but also to avoid becoming its captive.  Whether you "know" at this moment your life's legacy in this world is not as important as knowing that your life matters at this and every moment. This, my friend, is the true "miracle of consciousness"--the characteristic that distinguishes human beings from other life forms and what holds the potential for unleashing the human spirit in all of its glory. 

Thomas, the fact that you made an effort to participate in this online dialogue about the human quest for meaning suggests that you, too, are on the path whether you "know" it or not.  Viktor Frankl said that the meaning of life is meaning.  He also called his system of psychotherapy, "Logotherapy," which is rooted in Ancient Greek work, logos (loosely translated as "meaning" but more fundamentally as "spirit").  Dr. Frankl, I want to underscore, both humanized and spiritualized psychotherapy.          

Please, once again, read my book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts.  You will see that the search for meaning is not about some end point or destination that needs to be reached during our lives.  Determining the ultimate "purpose" of our lives, in this regard, is only part of the quest.  Frankl contended, and I obviously agree with him, that there is a "seed of meaning" in every moment of our lives--up until our very last breadth.  It is up to us, however, to discover what this seed of meaning is and decipher what it means (no pun intended) for us, in both a micro and macro sense.  In a way, it is by remaining conscious (there is that "miracle of consciousness" thing again!) of these "meaning moments" that we are offered the opportunity to weave together the unique tapestry of our own existence.  Again, it is our personal responsibility to engage in this kind of self-discovery and transformational process, something that admittedly is not always easy or transparent but one that, I would argue, is well worth the investment.      

As I mentioned in the original post, TRUE FREEDOM: Finding Deeper Meaning in Life, how do we affect positive change around us, individually or collectively, if our thoughts stay in a "perpetual state of doom" and we don't want something beyond ourselves?  Is that the kind of world that you really want to live in and leave behind to others, especially to those whom you care about and maybe even love?!  And what really would the world be like without some kind of "spiritual machine?"  (I'm not talking necessarily about organized religion).  Importantly, as we ponder these questions, we are demonstrating our unique  human-ness (our pets, for instance, don't ask such meaning-centered questions!) and we are offering hope and the possibility that life is more--much more--than adherence to the "Clockmaker God." 

No, Thomas, I firmly believe that all life matters and it is the search for meaning that distinguishes us as human beings rather than simply human doers.

So, now what do you think?!  Again, thanks for participating in this on-line dialogue.

All the best,
Alex 

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.
author, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
founder, Center for Meaning
Santa Fe, NM USA  www.themeaningdifference.com 

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