Own It

In this issue of Aim High, I offer up on Boldness; the capacity for Bravery, Courage and Daring. This is Boldness in practice. It is not loud nor annoyingly brash. It is best manifested when we BE... without need to prove nor validate. It is genuinely Decisive and Optimistic. It is true Leadership... Richer Confidence... and Cool Composure... manifested and meaningful. I humbly invite you to consider the Virtue.

In addition to reading and reflecting on the Boldness card above, I encourage you to ponder the following thoughts.

• "Make bold choices and make mistakes. It's all those things that add up to the person you become." --- Angelina Jolie
• "Be original; don't be scared of being bold!" --- Ed Sheeran

• “Our actions may be impeded…but there can be no impeding our intentions or dispositions. Because we can accommodate and adapt. The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” --- Marcus Aurelius
• "Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful." --- William Shakespeare
• "When the swords flash, go forward!? When the shafts fly, press onward!" --- Bahá’u’lláh

Boldness and Dominion

Stoicism is, in large part, grounded in Boldness. That said, yesterday was Canada Day and the first day of my Re-Tire Meant. It is also known as Dominion Day. Dominion itself is a Virtue, a Strength of Character. With it, we own our lives... a certain Stoic trait. Consider Dominion.

Yesterday, I posted on Facebook...

• "This Canada Day is one of Prayer and Meditation... of gutting some rooms... of two workouts already... and of marking this as Day One of my Next Chapter... fully re-tired from fulltime teaching. This will be a new Anniversary for the next Leg of the Journey. As Canada celebrates its "birthday" I get to create a bit of a new and sacred one for me."

I continue to be an Educator, Speaker, Coach, Author and Creator advancing Character, Purpose and Unity as forces for Educators, Entrepreneurs and Emerging Leaders forging a better world and future... at home, school, work, business, play and community. Humans Together Strong is my Just Cause. In that direction, I boldly go. Holding Dominion over our lives is Boldness in practice. Boldness is not arrogant nor obnoxious. It is not noisy or "in your face". At its best, it is real Respect for ourselves...

It is confident and purposeful... and patient even. It is Love over Fear... Heroic. That said, Boldness is Love in action...

... and I am ever better realizing its relevance for me as I embark on my own Next Chapter, and 4th major era of my own Life. New vistas known and unknown wait. And Boldness calls... in 4 areas of Life and living it. Yes, Boldness is calling in matters of Faith, Health, Service and Love. The practice of Character forward demands it. My work forward demands it. My own sense and practice of Dominion demands it.

Some Questions to Ponder

• How and where and with whom might it call to you? Where at home, school, work, business, play and community is Boldness calling? As an Educator, Entrepreneur or Emerging Leader, how does it call to you? What would it look like in practice?

I encourage you to ponder on these. Get clear on what it might look like for you ... and its return on investment, if you will. That in mind and heart, this issue also is part of The Love Blog series which has already explored Acceptance and Accountability... as well as Appreciation, Assertiveness, Audacity, Authenticity, and Awe... and then Balance and Beauty... and Benevolence to date. The journey continues. Today, we took a look at Boldness. Next up... Candor. Stay tuned and engaged, if you like. It is all about exploring Character, Leadership and Education.

Boldness... and Dominion... own it. And see where that takes you.

Peace, Justice and Unity...

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy with Epic Engage

• Heroic humanizing. Humans Together Strong. That is the Epic Work ahead. Rehumanizing how people serve, study, work and play together. I am an Educator, Speaker, Coach, Author and Creator helping Educators, Entrepreneurs and Emerging Leaders lead for a better world with Character, Purpose and Unity. I help advance Character, Purpose and Unity as forces for that better world. That is my work for a deeper, cooler Leadership. In so doing, I bring my work as Master Facilitator with the Virtues Project? ... my experience as a Certified Facilitator with Personality Dimensions? ... and my Service as a Facilitator with the Ruhi Institute and as Practitioner of the work of What Color is Your Parachute? since 1982.

• "I had the distinct pleasure of being in an audience in Montreal with Barry Lewis Green on the stage. Quite simply, Barry absolutely captivated us with his talent, his message, and his heart. The feeling of Unity that Barry created in the room that day was extraordinary. I absolutely recommend him for your meeting or event." --- Joe Calloway

• "The Mount Pearl Paradise Chamber of Commerce were fortunate enough to have Barry Lewis Green as a presenter for a Webinar Series we recently offered. He was so engaged with his audience and made everyone feel valued. He brought excitement and energy to our session and certainly shared his passion and knowledge with us. We will certainly be having Barry back for another series. Thanks Barry for being so professional." - Wanda Palmer

• "Barry has a presence...I have known of Barry’s work for many years but have gotten to know him as a friend and colleague within the past five. Whether it be in person or during a presentation, he has the uncanny ability to pull on all of your emotions while driving home key messages that provide personal clarity. Barry’s presentation skills can be explained as ‘heavy metal hits’ meets ‘folk tunes’ meets ‘sounds of nature’. He has an arsenal of skills that is quite eclectic. As a Master Facilitator for The Virtues Project and several other impactful programs, he combines a wealth of knowledge with his own extensive library of content creations. He is highly respected and well-connected within the speaking and social action communities. Barry is a true champion of character leadership. He ‘talks the talk’ and ‘walks the walk’. He approaches each and every interaction with passion and ZEAL! I highly recommend reaching out to Barry for collaboration opportunities." - Trent Langdon

• "The most learned or experienced person is not always the one who helps us grow and thrive. We all grow and thrive with those who ask the important questions in a loving and Noble manner - with the patience to allow our thinking to unfold, our feelings to emerge and our spirits to soar. This is what being in the same space with Barry is like. Working with Barry on #hUmaNITY is such a joy. I feel the excitement of standing before a blank canvas at the beginning of every gathering, exploring the depths of our creative energies throughout the conversations shared, and emerging at the end with a piece that I could not have painted singularly even on my best days. That is what conversations with Barry feels like. He is organized and efficient. Fearless and Bold. Lives with arms wide open.... and has the best questions (which begin with "I wonder....") asked in a most inclusive manner within a safe space that I often forget we are recording and that others will be witnessing our responses." - Russell Zehtab

• "Barry is compassionately honest. He has the talent to say what needs to be said in a way that people "get" it. His honesty and intelligence come through whether he is presenting on stage or just hanging out with friends. And...have you heard him sing? Man... he has a set of lungs that can wail a tune. Talented, smart and funny, when he takes the stage, he commands the stage." - Lea Brovedani

• "It takes immense strength of character to insistently amplify the goodness of every individual whose destiny crosses path with one’s own, no matter how briefly. This is who Barry is. The precious gift of Barry’s faith in you compels an irrepressible desire to show up as the best version of yourself. And in a world aching for radical hope and pragmatic wisdom, Barry is the gentle torch bearer whose light is constant amidst the maelstrom of fads. Should you then find your path intersecting with Barry’s, pause for a while in his companionship, and make space for the gift of his life-changing attention. I know because I paused. Barry, my heart continues to expand with immense gratitude for your indescribable presence. And this gift of an expanding heart, is priceless ??" - Dr. Roslina Chai