Be the Change you want to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi's wisdom may be more relevant today than ever.
The bee attracted by the scent of the flower, lands on one then another, inadvertently enabling reproduction. Should the bee go extinct, not just flowers but birds, small mammals and humans would also likely cease to exist. It is fair to assume the bee doesn’t know its role in the interconnected puzzle in preserving the balance of nature. The bee is simply bee-ing. - Rick Rubin in The Creative Art: A Way of Being.
I'm becoming weary of the constant stream of ideas discussed on platforms like Substack. Online, I still find myself yearning for ‘the confidence of a mediocre white man,’ echoing Jonathan Rowson's recent disclosure about his wife's wishes. Although I primarily write to clarify my thoughts, I'm realizing that simply tossing opinions around like a hockey puck on the ice, waiting for them to be intercepted, isn’t very effective or fulfilling for me. As Tom Morgan explains:
“(Rebel Wisdom) took me to a different level of ideas but like a lot of other people, I think it ended up being quite heavy on the galaxy brain, heavily masculinized, quite intellectualized, not very embodied, and almost no feminine contribution that wasn't the kind of very right brain spiritual facilitator. I think that what's happened over the last couple years is that nothing's moved on.”
I share the same sentiment, and I sense that others do too. There's this impatient feeling of a ‘calm before the storm,’ where we're all hunkering down and waiting... waiting for what exactly? I'm not certain, but there's definitely a sense of anticipation.
To my great surprise and relief, this week Tom announced that he has partnered with Ali Beiner to elevate Rebel Wisdom's legacy to the next level: to bridge the gap between sense-making communities that revolve around utopian ideas for change but struggle to make an impact, and the hyper-successful individuals who form Illuminati groups devoid of heart-centeredness.1
I trust Tom and Ali to do what can be done in this area and wish them well. As for me, I'm fully embracing what I excel at too, which is forming healthy human connections. I need engagement with kind and intelligent people and I'm grateful to say that I’m starting to find it.
One of the recent connections I've made is with Jasen Robillard, a contributor here on Substack. He's a puzzle designer and the owner of Stumpcraft, a jigsaw puzzle workshop located in Calgary, Alberta. Jasen and his company create laser-cut, heirloom-quality puzzles that showcase the finest Canadian art.2 I intend to collaborate with him on exploring how his puzzles not only help us relax and have fun but also engage our mental capacity to form vivid images and appreciate the inspiration behind them. I'm excited about our upcoming work together.
In the meantime, I'm involved in my psychotherapy practice, where I empower my clients to live more authentically. I also continue to support my adult sons as they grow into independent-minded yet open-hearted men with successful careers and fulfilling, long-term relationships. Lastly, in my own marriage, which is built on an appreciation of differences and authentic love, I am cherishing support, playfulness, and ongoing commitment—qualities that I believe are essential for enduring, romantic partnerships.
I'm sharing all this because I'm confident in my ability to nurture relationships, which my life reflects. My confidence comes from both interest and experience. In my early years, I sought out role models whose lives resonated with mine, aligning myself with their values as I grew and strengthened my own.
I encourage each of you to do the same - find those who embody the qualities you value most. If you're unsure of your values, seek a trusted individual to help you sort them out. Then, align yourself with aspects of life that reflect those values. When we do this, life changes. We begin to live more authentically. And when we all do this, I trust that life will not only improve for ourselves but also others.
Rick Rubin concludes:
“The total output of human creativity in all of its kaleidoscopic breadth, pieces together the fabric forming our culture. The underlying intention of our work is the aspect allowing it to fit neatly into this fabric. Rarely if ever do we know the 'Grand Intention', but if we surrender to the creative impulse, our singular piece of the puzzle takes its proper shape.”
I am fully embracing my joy in nurturing human connections, and the results of this effort are starting to show. I invite you to share the results of your efforts with us as well. Together, I believe we can make a difference.
To learn more about Tom and his new platform, Leading Edge, please read his recent article: The Story that Changes The World.
Check out Stumpcraft, where puzzles are designed to open our minds and hearts to wholes, within wholes, to form a Whole. Their puzzles are truly amazing works of art and fun to play with too. As Jasen shared with me: “As a puzzle company, our goal at StumpCraft is to stump you with our puzzles within that ‘just right’ Goldilocks zone of not too easy, not too hard. Our goal is to challenge you, to keep you in flow and to deliver a steady stream of positive feedback and dopamine. We want our puzzlers to realize that through careful & intentional curation of their attention, they can accomplish hard things that are worthy of pursuit. Our craft is to create transformational goods of art, connection and meaning. Our playful experimentation with the puzzle medium is purposeful: we explore the tension between novelty and predictability. We break the rules of traditional cardboard puzzles as metaphorical and experiential lessons: we can unlearn the rules that constrain us. With an open mind, the solution space for our problems is often wider than one initially thinks.” They certainly do!
My apologies to Pam Weber, Jasen Robillard and Stumpcraft. In my original post, I inadvertently omitted attribution to their work. Thanks for your patience and understanding.