The discovery of fire is generally thought to date back to between 300,000 and 400,000 years ago, though archaeologists have unearthed possible traces of campfires that flickered 1 million years ago. Whatever the discovery date fire has transformed human existence and has continued at the heart of that experience through time. We might consider all...
In all groups, large or small, one of the defining characteristics of the impact that group can have is the degree of alignment that exists with their purpose. We all know that any overarching ‘statement’ or unifying mantra can feel a bit like wallpaper after a while, becoming less potent and, ultimately, invisible. There’s always...
It’s said that the natural world offers everything we need to cure all the diseases that ail humankind. Firstly we have to believe that to be true and then we just have to discover them. We might also surmise that we have all the knowledge we need to tackle the challenges facing our planet and...
‘A sense of the universe, a sense of the all, the nostalgia which seizes us when confronted by nature, beauty, music – these seem to be an expectation and awareness of a Great Presence’. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin This beautiful quote by philosopher Teilhard du Chardin describes both the accessible and ‘everyday’ portals to an...
When good hearted people come together, when intention aligns, light is not just sparked…it grows and grows, becoming ever more intense. The rising up and coming together of communities to resist racism, to stand ground against violence, and to send a message of inclusion to those who have often risked their lives in search of...
Purpose is often, poetically, described as our North Star. It is the place where we feel most ‘in flow’, where our passion and action intersect, where we often achieve more than we felt capable of. In the bustle and demands of daily life discovering our purpose can, though, be a tricky proposition. For some it...
Many people find the absence of activity quite debilitating. There is a need to be ‘doing’ something all the time and even for those who don’t mind a bit of inactivity in most cases they wouldn’t describe this as an inner stillness. As leaders, people who step up and take responsibility, as parents and caring...
Most of us can commit to being fully present for our loved ones – ensuring in our time with them we are truly with them in each moment, nurturing deep connection, rather than distracted by the broader demands of life/work. Most of us can probably hold a line of living in the present whilst course...
In business we sometimes consider things like the vision and goals of the organisation, asking ourselves what are we aspiring to? A well crafted vision provides a glimpse of the destination. Glimpse because often a vision can feel a little out of reach or hard to express in truly concrete terms. Microsoft’s vision to put...
Throughout history we have wonderful examples of leaders doing the right thing – Lincoln’s abolition of slavery, Gandhi’s peaceful standing of ground, Martin Luther King Jr’s push for civil rights, Rosa Parks too, and Mandela’s bringing together a fractured nation. You will no doubt have your own inspiring examples. More recently in the business world...